Being a landlord in Solihull comes with a long list of responsibilities – and one of the biggest decisions you’ll make early on is whether to go with a fully managed service or let-only. Both have their benefits, but choosing the right option depends on your experience, time, and goals.
At Martin & Co Solihull, we help landlords at all levels navigate these options. Whether you’re letting out your first property or managing a growing portfolio, here’s a clear breakdown to help you decide what’s best for you.
What is a let-only service?
Let-only means your letting agent finds the tenant and handles the initial setup – then hands the management back to you. This typically includes advertising the property on portals like Rightmove and Zoopla, conducting viewings, referencing potential tenants, drawing up the tenancy agreement, and collecting the first month’s rent and deposit. After that, you’re responsible for everything: rent collection, maintenance, legal compliance, inspections, and renewals.
The pros of a let-only service include lower upfront fees compared to full management, giving you more control and keeping you hands-on with your property. It’s suitable if you live locally and have the time to manage things yourself. However, the cons include needing to handle all tenant communication, staying on top of changing lettings legislation, and the potential for longer voids or delays without active oversight. Let-only can work well for experienced landlords who are confident in managing their own tenancies – but for many, it quickly becomes time-consuming.
What does fully managed mean?
A fully managed service means your agent takes care of almost everything for you, from marketing and tenant find through to ongoing property management. At Martin & Co Solihull, our fully managed service includes 24/7 tenant support and emergency contact, rent collection and arrears handling, property inspections, maintenance coordination, compliance checks and documentation, and renewal negotiation and move-out management.
The benefits of full management are clear. It’s a hands-off and hassle-free option that helps reduce void periods through proactive management, keeps you legally compliant and up to date, and is ideal if you live outside the area or have multiple properties. On the other hand, the higher monthly fees (though often tax-deductible) and reduced direct involvement may not appeal to every landlord.
Which service is right for you?
Here are a few questions to help you choose. Do you live locally and have time to manage the property yourself? If yes, let-only could work. If not, full management may be more suitable. Are you up to date on the latest landlord legislation? If not, it might be safer to go fully managed, as fines for non-compliance can be costly. How many properties do you own? The more properties you have, the more value you’ll get from a fully managed service. And do you want peace of mind? If the answer is yes, full management offers 24/7 support and regular updates.
Local market insight: what Solihull landlords are choosing
In Solihull, we see a strong mix of landlords. New landlords often opt for fully managed services at the start, especially when renting family homes in areas like Hillfield, Shirley, and Olton. Many investors switching from self-management to full management tell us it’s because of rising compliance pressures and time demands. With ongoing changes to EPC rules, safety regulations, and Section 21 reforms, staying ahead of the law is essential.
A real-world example
Joanna, a landlord with three rental properties in Solihull, initially chose let-only to keep costs down. But after dealing with a difficult repair issue while away on holiday, she switched to our fully managed service. Now, we handle all communication with her tenants, arrange maintenance, and provide monthly reports. The result? Less stress, better tenant retention, and more time for her to focus on other priorities.
Final thoughts
Let-only and fully managed services both have their place. What matters most is choosing the one that matches your availability, confidence, and goals.
If you’re unsure, we’re happy to talk you through both options and help you make an informed decision. Thinking of adjusting your rent or investing in a new property? Get a free, no-obligation rental valuation.
Get in touch with Martin & Co Solihull for expert advice, competitive landlord packages, and local insight that helps you make the most of your investment.
