Only 15% of tenants want to meet agents when viewing properties according to latest data
Landlords who do not handle their own property viewings could be missing a trick according to new research from leading lettings agency Upad.
Following the long held simple belief that landlords are better than agents at showing tenants around their properties, Upad asked 382 tenants from across the UK if they agreed and discovered that a mere 15% would rather meet an agent for a viewing than deal directly with the landlord.
Over half of tenants asked said they would rather meet the landlord, while just over a third said that they were indifferent, highlighting the obvious advantages for landlords to liaise with tenants directly.
James Davis, CEO of Upad and hands-on landlord of 14 years comments,
“From our research, it appears that honesty and obtaining direct answers is of the utmost importance to potential tenants so it makes perfect sense for landlords to self-manage and hold viewings themselves. Landlords who are not doing this are simply missing out.”
To further demonstrate the sentiment, Upad asked their tenants exactly why they prefer one over the other. While one pro-agent tenant explained: “Agents are probably more objective about the property they are showing”, the majority of tenant comments in the survey revealed a pro-landlord attitude with one tenant stating:
“It is the landlord´s property and therefore he or she is more likely to know the finer details about the house than the agent who is simply there to do a job. Landlords are more honest with you and you don´t feel like you are being constantly pitched or sold to. A landlord is more likely to tell it like it is. I don´t believe agents are always truthful and because agents only care about the money I believe landlords are better – they actually care about keeping good tenants.”
Davis further comments,
“The data speaks for itself and it’s important that UK landlords listen to what tenants want. By cutting out the middle man and dealing directly with tenants, landlords have full control, enabling them to build trust and secure long lasting relationships with their tenants. We’ve used this research to build a better lettings agency model. At Upad, we find and reference great tenants for our landlords but allow them to handle viewings personally. The results have been amazing with properties being filled in days, even hours in some cases and the feedback has been phenomenal.”
Upad is one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies. Last year alone, 107,000 tenants asked them for help finding a home. Upad specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings. The tenant-finding services start from just £99 + VAT per property with an even cheaper rate for rooms.
For more information please contact lettings experts Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.