I own several flats in London, which I purchased while working in the UK a decade ago. Since relocating to Asia, I have been renting out these flats. Managing these properties from overseas presents significant challenges. Finding and managing tenants can be exhausting, and addressing maintenance issues is particularly stressful. As an example one of the flats experienced two major leakages originating from a neighbouring unit. My tenant, who had health issues related to humidity, needed to vacate immediately. The occupant of the neighbouring flat was frequently overseas and refused to leave his key with the management so that we could address the issue. I have also faced high tenant turnover and a challenging rental market, particularly during the Brexit and COVID-19 periods.
I am grateful to have Neel managing my properties. Neel was introduced to me by a friend when I was struggling with the managing agent I had at the time. My flat was rented to two siblings who were studying in London. They experienced issues with the toilets on multiple occasions, and the managing agent would simply call an emergency handyman without properly communicating with the tenants to inform them that flushing excessive toilet paper could be the cause. Each emergency plumber visit cost £500-£600, and there were three visits within two months, essentially consuming most of the rental income. Despite my discussions with the agent, I saw little improvement. It was a high street property agent chain, and I found that those agents generally neither cared enough nor understood the pain points of landlords.
Neel shared with me his approach to managing issues and repairs, and he also introduced general documentation and some of the common issues his clients face. This was extremely helpful and prevented me from encountering similar problems.
Neel has been diligently taking care of the flats and actively managing the tenants. He generally responds to questions and issues promptly. He also thoroughly reviews all property management communications and collaborates closely with the management to resolve issues. For example, during the severe leak I experienced, his diligent work and excellent communication skills ensured that the problem was resolved efficiently and smoothly, with no further issues. I cannot imagine how this situation would have been handled if I were still with the high street agent. It would have taken an inordinate amount of time and required significantly more effort on my part to ensure that issues were addressed. Additionally, the stress involved would have adversely affected my daily life and work.
There are several key attributes to identifying a good agent. First and foremost is the level of effort and care they exhibit. As previously mentioned, Neel is a landlord himself and is extremely energetic and passionate about property management. Consequently, he invests a great deal of effort and genuinely cares about the flats. Through our conversations, I have come to appreciate Neel’s keen attention to detail and his pride in delivering quality work. This is essential to me; if a person does not care about the property, they tend to do the bare minimum, and things do not endure.
Secondly, client handling ability is crucial. Neel has a unique charm in managing tenants. He communicates exceptionally well and knows how to calm tenants when issues arise. Thirdly, being considerate and flexible is important. Neel excels in this regard, applying these qualities to every aspect of his work. I have observed him taking good care of the tenants and understanding the challenges faced by both tenants and property management.
Lastly, knowledge of buildings and appliances is essential. Neel possesses extensive knowledge of various appliances and strong DIY skills. Often, he addresses minor issues himself without needing to call a handyman, which has saved me a significant amount of money.
Over the years of working together on my properties, I have observed that Neel demonstrates a level of care far exceeding that of any other agents I have previously employed. He manages each property as if it were his own, investing considerable effort and attending to every detail meticulously. In my view, this is his most valuable quality.
Paavai moved to Singapore from the UK 15 years ago and has invested in two properties in Beckenham, Kent.
“I bought a rental property in 2019 from a high street agent. At the time it seemed logical to use them for its rental management. Their initial feedback on preparing it was that I needed to spend £3,500 on decorating. I was shocked; it was only a one-bedroom flat. At that point I had heard about Neel at Shaycrest Asset Management from another lady who had a rental property in the same block. I reached out to Neel and he advised me on how to get it ready for my first tenant.
So I used them to get the flat ready, they undertook all the repairs and decoration, the cleaning and preparing – at half the price that I was quoted by the managing agent. I was however already in contract with them for the rental and reluctantly went ahead promising myself that when the contract expired I would switch to them.
I then had my first taste of how important tenant selection is. A leak was causing damage to the ceiling in the flat below and it was almost impossible to get hold of the tenant to arrange to fix the problem. Eventually I was advised that the problem was in the bathroom and invested over £8k in having that redone and still the leak was happening. It was highly stressful and I became desperate to get rid of the tenant.
I was relieved and hopeful when that tenancy ended and I was able to transfer to Shaycrest Asset Management. I had complete faith by this time in the guidance and advice from Neel so that when I started to look for a property for my son I of course turned to Neel. I had already made one trip to the UK to view a property which wasn’t suitable so I started to ask Neel to give his opinion on other properties I was considering. He visited one that was of particular interest to me giving me a WhatsApp video tour. He advised that it was a good property and I went ahead with the purchase without seeing it, such was my trust. I rented the property through Neel knowing it would be well looked after for a couple of years before my son moved in.
My son only stayed in the flat for six months so I once again turned to Neel for my next tenant and ongoing management. I have been impressed by how Neel will take on things that aren’t really in his remit. My flat is one in a block and yet he will involve himself in communal issues too on my behalf. When it transpired that there were issues with the roof Neel conducted a full report that I was able to share with other tenants with his recommendations; it was instrumental in getting agreement and the management company to take action and resolve the problem.
Neel has taken all the worry away from me about owning and renting properties. While I know he has other client he is so responsive to my requests that it feels like he only looks after me! He always supplies before and after photos and waits patiently without any pressure on me around my decisions. I know he has my best interests at heart and I get to sleep peacefully knowing that my properties are in safe hands.”
Sunny heads up a construction and property development company based in London
“Shaycrest Asset Management handles all aspects of tenancy on our behalf; currently18 of our properties across SE and SW London. It’s a working relationship spanning almost 20 years and saves us time and money. Whilst it’s a saturated market – walk down any high street and you’ll see at least five estate agents offering tenancy services, finding the gem is the challenge. Unfortunately most large high street agents don’t do a good job and are overpriced. Shaycrest is the gem worth finding – competitively priced and providing us with an excellent service. I trust Neel implicitly regarding what is needed and what is best around the tenancy of our properties. He has my complete trust and with that I feel confident in giving him ‘free rein’. It absolves me of the day-to-day and allows me to focus my time and energy on our core business; acquiring and developing properties.”
End to End property asset management for the private residential sector in London