Yet again I have been shocked by a story told to me of appalling 'service' provided by an agent to its clients, in the alleged 'management' service it has been supplying. To give an idea of the failings of this two person team, the firm has not been registering deposits at all in its two years of trade, had not credit searched the tenants (although told the landlord that it had) and to top it all off, it is reported that the owner has gone abroad with a tenant's security deposit!

This behaviour is shocking and a particularly bad case, which not only leaves its landlord liable for prosecution and fine, but goes completely against any morals and ethics that a business should have by blatantly lying to its customers. So when someone sets up as a letting agent what exactly do they think it involves?

We work with many people looking to set up a lettings business, as we operate a franchise network, and it is fascinating how simple many people think it is. Many have been to see us and then gone on to set up on their own, thinking it's easy, only to realise it quite clearly is not, so I wanted to dispel the myth of what is really involved in running a letting agency. It's not easy, even when you have a team of staff to support you and are two decades in.

I have been running my lettings business since 1990, and it is still evolving. I am continually learning, the processes still need to be reviewed all the time to stay in line with changing legislation, which seems to change every week, so I wanted to share what my typical week is like running an established business, even with a competent professional team in place.