{"id":8565,"date":"2025-12-02T09:11:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T09:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentila.co.uk\/blog\/?p=8565"},"modified":"2025-12-19T13:16:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T13:16:15","slug":"the-cost-of-diy-landlording-vs-using-property-management-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentila.co.uk\/blog\/the-cost-of-diy-landlording-vs-using-property-management-software\/","title":{"rendered":"The cost of DIY landlording vs. using property management software"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/div>\n

Letting agents used to be the crutch to support landlords in running an efficient rental property. But with UK landlords now facing higher taxes, many are turning to DIY solutions to boost their bottom line.<\/p>\n

DIY landlording means doing everything yourself \u2013 from tracking expenditure and submitting tax returns, to preparing new leases and handling tenant relationships.<\/p>\n

But there is a middle option \u2013 one that saves on letting agent fees, but isn\u2019t as cumbersome as a fully DIY method. That is, utilising property management software (which is exactly what a letting agent uses).<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll compare the costs of doing everything yourself (AKA DIY landlording) vs investing in property management software (in place of a letting agent) to see if it can save you time and money.<\/p>\n\n

What are the direct costs of DIY landlording?<\/h2>\n

As a DIY landlord (who doesn\u2019t use property management software<\/a> or a letting agent), you may still have to pay one-off fees, like advertising costs or standalone services, and run the risk of being liable for fines<\/a> if something goes wrong (letting agents typically cover this).<\/p>\n

Typical costs of DIY landlording include:<\/p>\n

Advertising listings manually<\/h3>\n

Letting agents offer \u201ctenant-find-only\u201d services, which cover marketing, viewings, and setting up new tenancies<\/a>. These usually cost around \u00a3500-\u00a31,500, or a percentage of the rental income.<\/p>\n

Advertising your rental property yourself as a DIY landlord can be cheaper, but it depends. Listings on social media (like area-specific rental Facebook groups) are free, but require good vetting and administration.<\/p>\n

Listing on property portals can range between \u00a340-\u00a3150 per property listing, plus the costs of professional photos (usually around \u00a3100-\u00a3500), bringing total costs between \u00a3140-\u00a3650.<\/p>\n

Paying for standalone services<\/h3>\n

Landlords may also pay for specific services, like tenant background checks, or invest in lower-level support from a letting agent.<\/p>\n

Paying for additional services as a DIY landlord can include:<\/p>\n