Can a Landlord Change Letting Agent Mid Tenancy in the East Midlands?

Are you a landlord in the East Midlands with the question ‘can you change letting agent mid tenancy?’ You may need to leave your current letting agent for a number of negative reasons, from rising fees to poor service, and there is good news.

You don’t have to wait for a tenancy to end to switch letting agent. In this article we reveal the service red flags you should look for, explain the exact steps you need to take to leave your current letting agent and answer commonly asked landlord questions. 

Can I change my letting agent in the East of England?  

Many landlords in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland pay for a full property management service but what if the agent’s standards slip or their fees rise unsustainably? Can you change letting agent mid tenancy? 

What are the signs I should switch letting agent?  

There has been a rise in complaints about property management and poor service received by the Property Redress service, proving not all letting agents are equal. Let’s establish whether your current agent is failing to deliver. If you recognise any of these signs, you may have a problem: 

• Your agent is slow to answer enquiries 
• Your buy-to-let is empty for long periods between tenancies 
• There hasn’t been a recent property inspection  
• Your tenant contacts you with problems 
• The rent isn’t reviewed annually 
• Your rent payments have been slow or erratic 
• Service levels haven’t been improving in line with rising fees 

How easy is it to change letting agents?  

There is a common misconception that landlords are stuck with their initial agent until the tenancy ends but that’s not true. You can leave one letting agent for another during the tenancy. We’ll explain how easy it is to change lettings agents. 

What paperwork is needed to switch letting agents?  

There are 4 main items of paperwork required when you switch letting agent: 

• the original terms of business/contract 
• a letter to the agent terminating the contract 
• a letter to the tenant, notifying them of a change in management 
• a second letter to the agent, confirming the contract end date and recalling documentation 

Changing letting agent during tenancy explained  

Fed up with how your East Midlands rentals are managed? Here’s how to change letting agents: 

1. Check current agreement & give notice  

Start by giving notice to your current letting agent. The terms of business/contract will detail if there’s a fixed period that ties you to their service, along with any termination fees and their notice period (usually 2 or 3 months). 

2. Decide on a new letting agent  

Switching letting agent is an opportunity to receive a better service. Read online reviews, obtain multiple quotes and compare letting agent fees to decide on who is the best match for your rental – actions you can take during the notice period.  

3. Notify the tenant   

It’s good practice to tell your tenant about management changes. A letter should include the new letting agent’s contact details, together with the switch date, details of new payment methods and confirmation that their tenant rights remain unchanged.  

4. Safeguard the deposit  

Your new agent will choose to keep the deposit with the same protection scheme (Deposit Protection Service,MyDeposits or Tenancy Deposit Scheme) or transfer it to their chosen provider. They’ll also re-serve the prescribed information, if required. 

5. Hand over documentation  

A final change of letting agent letter to the outgoing lettings company should confirm the date when your new agent takes over. You should also use this communication to: 

• request a transfer of the tenancy agreement 
• obtain the tenant’s most recent contact details 
• request a balance of monies owed/due  
• recall documentation such a EPCs, guarantees/warrantees, inventory/inspection reports, appliance manuals and safety certificates  

6. Complete the physical handover process  

We suggest visiting each rental where there’s a management change to conduct a joint inspection with both agents. At this point you can collect your buy-to-let’s keys (this may require ID), check the property’s condition and change access codes. 

7. Follow up checks  

Ask your tenant how the handover went, especially if they had complaints about the previous letting agent. Also monitor the quality of the new agent’s service, checking if you receive rent payments promptly. 

Frequently asked questions 

Looking to switch letting agent?

If you have a buy-to-let in Oundle, Stamford, Oakham or elsewhere in the East Midlands and are unhappy with your current letting agent, please contact King West about transferring to our service. This will become all the more important as the Renters Rights Act comes into force with more responsibilities for landlords and letting agents to juggle.