How Bobby Saved £5,900 a Year by Ditching His Letting Agent | Homesty
Written By
Duncan Rooney
Oct 15, 2025
Landlord Bobby was paying 14% in agent fees and £1,710 for repairs — until he switched to Homesty. Discover how he fixed everything for £148, built trust with his tenants, and saved nearly £6,000 a year.
Meet Bobby — A Landlord Who’d Had Enough
Bobby rents out his flat in East London for £2,500 a month.
Like many landlords, he trusted a letting agent to “manage” things — and paid 14%, or £4,200 a year, for it.
When he received another email quoting £1,710 for small repairs, he realised how much he was losing.
“It felt like I was working for them, not the other way around. They were sucking me dry.”
— Bobby, landlord
The £1,710 “Repair List”
The agent’s quote included:
£305 to reseal the bathroom
£260 for a new extractor fan
£35 for cooker hood filters
Plus more
After a 30-minute YouTube tutorial and a trip to Screwfix, Bobby did it himself:
Silicone reseal: £12 instead of £80
New tap: £44 instead of £395
Extractor fan: just needed a clean and WD-40 — £0
Cooker hood filters: washed in the dishwasher — £0
Six hours later, the flat was fixed and the tenants were happy.
Total cost: £148, not £1,710.
The Real Problem: Too Many Emails, Too Little Clarity
Each repair triggered a new email chain from the agent — one for each issue, each managed by different people. After weeks of back and forth, things got messy and delayed.
Homesty changed that.
Now Bobby and his tenants communicate in one continuous thread — all messages, photos, and payments in one place.
“With Homesty, I actually know my tenants now — and we trust each other.”
— Bobby, landlord
The Results
Expense | Letting Agent | Homesty |
|---|---|---|
Maintenance quote | £1,710 | £148 (Cost of materials) |
Annual management fee | £4,200 | £39 (one off fee) |
Total saved | £5,900+ |
Why Bobby’s Not Going Back
Homesty helped Bobby take back control — and keep his profits.
No 14% management fee
Right to Rent–compliant contracts
Simple, single-thread tenant communication
Option to DIY or hire trusted pros
“Agents make simple jobs sound like specialist projects.
In reality, it’s a dusty fan, a bit of WD-40, and a £12 tube of silicone.
With Homesty, my margins finally make sense.”
— Bobby, landlord
Ready to Save Like Bobby?
Ditch the fees, the markups, and the inbox chaos.
Join Homesty — the all-in-one rental platform that makes renting human, transparent, and fair.
Moving starts with a connection
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Written By
Duncan Rooney
Updated on
Oct 15, 2025
