If you've ever rented a flat or thought about putting your own property on the rental market, chances are you've come across the term "letting agent." But what does one actually do, and do you really need one? Let's break it down without the jargon. The Simple Definition A letting agent is a professional (or a company) that acts as the middleman between landlords and tenants. Their job is to handle the messy, time-consuming parts of renting out a property so that landlords don't have to, and so tenants get a smoother experience. Think of them as the people who keep the wheels turning behind a tenancy. They're not the same as estate agents, although the two often get confused. Estate agents help people buy and sell homes. Letting agents focus purely on the rental side of things. What Does a Letting Agent Actually Do? The day-to-day work of a letting agent covers a lot more than just sticking a "To Let" sign in a window. Here's what they typi...