To remain competitive in today’s market it’s important to provide exceptional service beyond the basic tasks of property management. Adding extra value for landlords and tenants enables an agency to stand out, and one way to achieve this is by making insurance products an integrated part of the service offered to clients.

Letting agents have access to a wide array of industry tools to elevate their business operations, including CRM platforms, marketing software, referencing providers, accounting tools, and deposit services. Integrating suppliers is a straightforward method to maximise the utility of existing resources, streamline operations, prevent fraud, and improve the experience for both tenants and landlords.

Lettings agents must protect the interests of landlords, tenants, and their agencies, so understanding the basics of deposit protection is key and knowing the do’s and don’ts will help minimise disputes and reduce the risk of costly penalties.

Being a letting agent or an estate agent with a letting portfolio demands juggling numerous responsibilities, from property management and tenant relations to day-to-day operations, plus the perpetual quest for new business. However, amidst these demands, being on top of client accounting is paramount.

The UK Government is currently consulting on the implementation of Awaab’s Law, which was passed in response to the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in December 2020 from exposure to serious mould in his parents’ social rented home.

A rental property is provided as a home for tenants and must be fit for human habitation (FFHH) throughout the tenancy. As the weather changes, it’s vital for agents to stay on top of property maintenance and make sure issues are put right for their tenants as soon as possible.

Insurance broker and risk management partner Gallagher has launched Student Assist to provide coverage against damage to properties and students with personal belongings insurance.

The unique partnership has seen client account health checks and accountants' reports waived for letting agent members who use PayProp’s client accounting platform.

Proptech offers many valuable benefits to property managers who are prepared to evolve their own habits too. Tech tools aren’t designed to replace the human element, but they can help agents be more efficient, compliant and effective in what they do. It’s important to remember its success is down to a team effort – even the very best proptech still relies on the expertise of inventory clerks, letting agents and landlords to make it work optimally.

As inflation continues to be high, some people's financial situations have become increasingly challenging, and the squeeze on the cost of living could leave tenants struggling to pay, however, rent guarantee insurance can help to protect rental income if tenant defaults on rent.

Letting agents and landlords will be familiar with this phrase, however grasping the meaning and recognising the limits of this term can often be a disputed topic, particularly when making a deposit deduction.

The introduction of the Renter's (Reform) Bill resulted a lot of media coverage, with agents and landlords voicing valid concerns about the potential impact of future legislation on their businesses. However, it is important to note that the Bill has not yet become law and is still undergoing scrutiny and possible amendments.

Following a year of research and development, working collaboratively with Leaders Romans Group (LRG), Inventory Hive has created a new diary-management/maps feature that will be a game changer for coordinating property inspections and visits.

Managing numerous residents, in some cases thousands, all in one building is a highly responsible job and agents need a thorough and robust system to make sure nothing slips through the net.

Every agency will know the risks they face each day as a business can be wide-ranging and often complex, and how to decide what to cover and what levels are sufficient to provide adequate protection can be complex.

The UK Government has committed to an ambitious net-zero carbon target by 2050, but what does climate change have to do with property, and will the housing sector be ready to achieve proposals?