More than three-quarters of self-managing portfolio landlords regularly delay non-urgent maintenance work because they don’t have time to arrange it, a new survey has found.

Research commissioned by property management firm Rushbrook reveals that 77% regularly put off non-urgent maintenance, while 74% believe managing their rental portfolios has become harder during the past three years. Meanwhile, 57% say recent changes to rental market regulation have made them reconsider whether they want to continue managing their properties themselves.

Managing director Roma Sharma believes what’s interesting is that landlords aren’t simply reporting that regulation is stressful - for many it’s making them reconsider whether self-management remains the right approach. “When you’re juggling multiple properties, keeping on top of compliance alongside maintenance, tenants and the day-to-day running of a portfolio is a substantial undertaking,” she adds.

“Managing a rental portfolio has always required time and expertise, but the legislative landscape has become considerably more demanding, and the Renters’ Rights Act has only increased the focus on getting things right.”

Compliance

While compliance causes the greatest stress, maintenance and repairs are placing the greatest demand on landlords’ time, with 52% identifying this as the most time-consuming aspect of managing their portfolio. In fact, 68% of self-managing landlords report spending 31 hours or more each month managing their rental properties, while a further 17% spend between 21 and 30 hours.

Of those 525 surveyed, 62% own six or more rental properties, including 36% with portfolios of 11 or more.

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