The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Property Management Company

What types of property management are there?  

Property management encompasses a wide range of roles, from managing individual properties to entire portfolios. Typically, lettings management primarily helps landlords find tenants, arrange and attend viewings, and manage the rental agreement process whereas block and estate property management focuses on the ongoing maintenance, compliance, and communal aspects of multi-unit buildings or estates. Here we break it down further: 

• Lettings Property Management: Lettings management is all about the individual rental experience. Lettings property managers will work closely with landlords and tenants, ensuring all lettings activities comply with relevant legislation and regulations, rent income is effectively collected and managed, and maintenance is completed to a high standard, promptly.  

• Block & Estate Property Management: For block and estate property management, the focus is on the upkeep and administration of the property and managed estates, including communal areas and public open spaces. So, financial and maintenance responsibilities are at the core, with work including the responsibility of managing service charges, coordinating and managing the maintenance requirements of communal areas like stairwells, landings, lifts, pathways, parking, and shared gardens. 

While each role has distinct responsibilities, they are interconnected. Issues in communal areas can impact individual tenants, and tenant activities can affect the wider development.  

That’s where synergy becomes crucial. Having one company manage both services eliminates all that back-and-forth or risk of disconnect. Instead, with full-service property management, one team working together will prioritise issues properly, and resolve them faster. 

Common issues experienced in property management 

In a continuously evolving market, the complex roles in block & estate management, and lettings management make it increasingly essential to collaborate with the right property management partner. It’s important to understand your needs as a leaseholder, freeholder, resident management company, landlord, or developer to appoint a property management company that supports you and your property portfolio, guided by your requirements.  

Common challenges often arise when working with inefficient property management firms or juggling multiple service providers. These issues can include 

• Late or non-payment of rent and service charges: a good property manager will have a system in place for collecting rent (lettings) and addressing late payments (block & estate). At Watsons, we have heavily invested in technology that has improved the pace and cost-effectiveness of such operations.  

• Property maintenance and repairs: unexpected repairs can be costly and time-consuming, but a well-structured property management company will ensure quick and cost-effective solutions. Our team budget for and hold appropriate funds for this work, removing the worry for you and allowing for immediate action. We always work with local independent trades people, ensuring the best value for money, too.

• Occupier disputes: conflicts may arise from occupiers, but skilled property managers know how to mediate and resolve issues professionally. Consider how you would like these to be managed on your behalf and how you would like to be informed of related matters? Our communication strategy offers real-time updates on activities, financial reports, and maintenance schedules, paired with regular personal contact and prompt responses.  

• Legal and compliance issues: Ask property management companies, are they dedicated to supporting clients navigate the complexities of ongoing reforms and legislative changes, such as the Building Safety Act 2022 and Renters’ Rights Bill? And how are they delivering this? Property managers should undergo industry-accredited training, monitor and consume authoritative information, and foster trusting client relationships to feed and act upon this knowledge, ensuring all buildings are always compliant.   

Choosing the right unified property management company 

Property management is a dynamic and challenging role that encompasses a wide range of services designed to ensure your investment is enhanced, protected, and profitable. Often, property owners can get caught dealing with multiple companies and contractors to maintain their properties, portfolios or estates. Appointing a full-service property management company should simplify and streamline ownership.   

At Watsons, our property management packages are tailored to your needs. Our teams are expertly trained to handle everything you need, from tenant screening for lettings and landlords, block and estate service charges and budgeting for investors, to high-quality landscaping of estates and communal areas, and much more.

Whether you’re a leaseholder, freeholder, resident management company, landlord, or developer, appointing a partner that offers clarity, confidence, and support is essential for success within the complex property industry. When weighing up your options, for lettings, block & estate, or unified services, it’s important to consider the following key factors – all of which we proudly focus on: 

• Experience and reputation: a company with strong and accredited industry expertise, positive reviews, and testimonials demonstrate trust and credibility. Our property manager qualifications include RICS, TPI, and ARLA Propertymark and RICS-accredited training for surveyors and valuers. In 2023, we were awarded Growth Property Management Company of the Year and Letting Agency of the Year in 2024. We’re proud to have won the Feefo Platinum 2025 Trusted Award for the fourth year in a row, too. 

• Comprehensive services: before appointing a property management company, you must outline everything you need, from tenant screening to maintenance and legal compliance, to ensure a company meets your requirements. Our Management + package combines our full suite of property management offerings for you in one.  

• Transparent fees: Understand the cost structure upfront helps you to avoid hidden costs that can occur with other property management businesses. Our fixed-price packages ensure transparency and integrity, removing the worry of hidden costs or unexpected fees. 

• Regular communication and preferred channels: a company with an efficient communication system will offer better transparency, trust and responsiveness. We offer a combination of digital updates and personal contact, allowing for prompt response and long-term relationships. 
• Legal knowledge: choosing a company that clearly stays updated on property laws and regulations to enhance and protect your investments. The Building Safety Act 2022 is a recent example aimed at improving building safety, which many mistakenly believe only impacts high-rise buildings, that we have been heavily focused on supporting clients to navigate.