Most Glasgow landlords who stay with a letting agent they are unhappy with do so because changing sounds complicated. In practice, switching usually takes one email from you giving notice, and your tenant stays in the property throughout. Our Switch Agent package costs 7% including VAT, with £250 cashback to cover your old agent’s notice period after 90 days of management.
After managing residential property across Glasgow since 1999, we have found this to be one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry. Many landlords who eventually move to Infiniti Properties tell us they had been considering a change for months, or even years, but assumed the process would be complicated or disruptive. In reality, changing managing agents is often far simpler than people expect.
Why Landlords Stay With the Wrong Letting Agent
One thing we have noticed over the years is that landlords will happily change their mortgage provider, insurer, accountant or bank if they feel they are no longer receiving good service. Yet many remain with the same letting agent for years despite becoming increasingly frustrated, simply because changing feels inconvenient. In our experience, that mindset can cost landlords more than they realise.
The Conversation Usually Starts the Same Way
Many landlords who contact Infiniti Properties begin with almost exactly the same sentence:
“I’m not unhappy enough to move… but…”
Then comes the list:
- Communication has become slower.
- Repairs seem to take longer than expected.
- Emails need to be chased.
- Updates have become less frequent.
- The landlord feels they are doing more of the managing themselves despite paying a management fee.
Usually there is no single dramatic incident. A series of small frustrations gradually erodes the landlord’s confidence in the service. On their own, those frustrations might not seem serious enough to justify changing agent. Together, they can be a sign that the property is no longer receiving the attention it deserves, or the standard the Letting Agent Code of Practice expects.
Good Property Management Is Often Invisible
Most people assume a letting agent’s job is to collect rent and organise repairs. Those responsibilities matter, but excellent property management begins long before there is a problem to solve. Good property management includes:
- Arranging compliance work before certificates expire.
- Reviewing rents before they fall behind the local market.
- Identifying maintenance issues while they are still inexpensive to fix.
- Keeping tenants informed.
- Keeping landlords updated.
- Responding promptly when questions or problems arise.
A well-managed property should run quietly. In many ways, the best compliment a letting agent can receive is that the landlord rarely needs to think about them because everything simply gets done. We set out what that should include in your letting agent should do more than collect the rent.
The Question Worth Asking Yourself
If you were appointing a letting agent today, would you choose the one you’re currently using?
It is a surprisingly difficult question. Most landlords stay because changing feels inconvenient, rather than because they have recently compared the market and concluded their current agent is the best available. Those are two very different reasons.
Looking Beyond the Management Fee
When comparing letting agents, management fees naturally attract attention. Should you pay 8%, 9% or 10%? They are reasonable questions, but rarely the most important ones. Consider the potential cost of:
- A property sitting empty for an extra month.
- A rent review that never happens.
- Small maintenance issues becoming major repairs.
- Poor communication damaging the landlord-tenant relationship.
- Compliance deadlines being overlooked.
- A landlord having to repeatedly chase for updates.
Those issues can cost considerably more than a one or two percent difference in management fees, as we explain in the real cost of a poorly managed tenancy.
Value matters more than the headline fee.
Self-Managing Landlords Face a Different Decision
We also speak with landlords who have successfully managed their own properties for years. Some genuinely enjoy it. Others originally chose self-management because it appeared to be the most economical option. However, the rules for private landlords keep changing, tenant expectations have moved on and many landlords simply have less spare time than they once did.
We have spoken to landlords who eventually realised they were spending:
- Evenings arranging repairs.
- Weekends replying to tenant messages.
- Valuable time keeping up with changing legislation.
- Too much time worrying about whether something important had been missed.
For many, the real question was whether they still wanted to manage the property, rather than whether they could. We look at that decision in the property hasn’t changed, your life has.
If You Have Started Comparing Agents
Landlords rarely start searching for a new letting agent after one major problem. It usually follows months of small frustrations. If you have found yourself comparing letting agents or wondering whether you could receive a better service elsewhere, it is worth exploring your options. Changing will not always be the right answer, but understanding what good property management looks like puts you in a stronger position to decide.
Changing Letting Agents Is Often Easier Than Expected
One of the biggest surprises for landlords is how straightforward the process can be. The first step is simply a conversation, before any paperwork. We will explain:
- How the transfer process works.
- What notice may need to be provided.
- What happens with the existing tenant.
- How keys, documents and deposits are dealt with.
- How communication is handled.
- How Infiniti Properties would manage your property.
You can then decide whether staying where you are or making a change is the right decision for you, with no pressure and no obligation.
Final Thoughts
Property is a long-term investment, and the company managing it deserves the same scrutiny. A good letting agent should protect your investment, anticipate problems, communicate clearly and make property ownership feel straightforward.
If you are completely confident in your current letting agent, that is excellent. If you are no longer sure you are receiving the service your property deserves, it may be time to see what a different approach looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change letting agents while my tenant is still living in the property?
Yes. In many cases, landlords change managing agents during an existing tenancy with very little disruption for the tenant.
Is changing letting agents difficult?
Usually not. Most of the process is handled between the outgoing and incoming agents once the appropriate notice has been given. With Infiniti, your part is one email to your current agent, using wording we give you.
Will my tenant be affected?
A professionally managed transfer should have minimal impact. The tenancy continues while responsibility for managing the property moves to the new agent.
Do I need to wait until my tenancy ends?
Not necessarily. Many landlords change managing agents during an ongoing tenancy.
How do I know if changing is worthwhile?
If you have started questioning the communication, service or value you are receiving, it is worth having a conversation. Exploring your options does not commit you to changing, and it helps you make an informed decision.
Unhappy with your current letting agent?
Switch your tenanted property to Infiniti for 7% including VAT, keep your tenant, and get £250 cashback after 90 days of management. Give your current agent notice with one email, and we handle the move from there.