Business
What do you need to become a hands-on landlord?
But what does a hands-on approach consist of, why might it benefit you and how can you enact it?
With most of us having spent at least some part of our adult lives in rented accommodation, it’s fairly common knowledge that landlords come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, ranging from the “bit of a legend” types through those truly dislikeable, draconian monsters. If you’re a landlord, you may or may not be concerned with what your tenants think of you, but it certainly doesn’t do any harm to have them onside. After all, when it comes to timely rent payments, keeping properties in good condition and generally being well behaved, your tenants are much more likely to do all three if they think you’re a decent and fair character.
In the modern game, one of the most prominent distinctions between landlord types is that of the hands-on versus hands-off landlord. Being one over the other doesn’t necessarily make you a better or worse landlord, but one would suggest a hands-on approach will keep you immersed in your properties, engaged with what’s going on and more accessible to tenants, all of which are good things, generally speaking.
But what does a hands-on approach consist of, why might it benefit you and how can you enact it?
Defining hands-on versus hands-off
Your typical hands-on landlord makes a full-time job of their investment. Using this approach, you’ll generally want to be involved in every aspect of your property and wider investment, doing things like finding new properties, sourcing tenants, conducting viewings, collecting rent, dealing with property admin and being the point of contact for tenants. Naturally, a hands-on approach makes property investing and letting your 24/7 (not 9-5) job rather than just a side hustle, so it demands a significant commitment from you.
Hands-off landlords, meanwhile, are more looking to reap the financial rewards of property ownership without dealing with the aggro of the administration behind it. This means handing the management of your properties over to a letting agent or property manager that’ll do all the hard stuff for you. It’s the route a lot of wealthier investors who use property investment as a side-project take, and for those without the time and energy to burn, it’s a pretty ideal solution.
The benefits of being a hands-on landlord
So, why would you want those stresses and administrative duties on your plate if you can just palm them off onto someone else? A fair question, but one that has plenty of attractive answers:
- Maximise profits: by handing over administrative duties to a letting agent or property manager, you will have to pay your dues. Doing all the graft yourself might make being a landlord your job rather than something on the side, but it does mean your margins will be much healthier for it.
- Control and visibility: a lot can go on behind the curtain in property letting. Your tenants might be hiding damage from you, for example, or there might be a project or repair that your letting agent isn’t as proactive on as you’d like them to be. By taking a DIY approach, you’ll know exactly what’s going on in your properties at all times and be able to respond promptly and effectively without having to worry about any nasty surprises.
- Enjoy a better relationship with your tenants: A hands-on approach means you are the point of contact for you tenants. That gives them a face to your name to work with and a more human approach that cuts out the middle man. Better communication between you and your tenants can only be a positive thing, and you might see they treat the property, and you, better for it.
- Make it your passion: if you enjoy being a landlord over your current role, why not make it your job and your passion project? It’s a demanding line of work, but if you enjoy it, then taking it on full time, along with all the other benefits that come with it, is a sound move.
What you’ll need
If you’ve bought into the hands-on sell, the next step is to think about what you need to effectively carry out the role. That includes:
- Being able to fully commit to the role and efficiently carry out your duties.
- The desire and understanding to deliver a reliable, respectful and business minded service to your tenants.
- Good communication and personal skills.
- The appropriate tools to carry out general handyman work around your properties, including everything from basic hammers and drills through to specialised equipment like rivet guns.
- A full understanding of your responsibilities in absence of a letting partner.
- A full understanding of the legalities attached to property management.
- An appropriate skillset to carry out maintenance tasks within your properties – and knowing when to call for professional help.
If all of the above hasn’t put you off the idea of becoming more involved with your property portfolio, then a hands-on approach might well be for you. If not, the hands-off, stress-free approach is always there. Just remember, whatever path you choose – it’s always better to be legendary than loathsome.
Business
Deliveroo is set for a multi-billion dollar buyout from a takeaway rival
Danny Jones
UK takeaway service Deliveroo is set for a massive takeover by a fellow delivery business rival, said to be worth several billion.
The British multinational is known nationwide, occupying one of the biggest market shares alongside competitors Just Eat and Uber Eats, but now the takeaway delivery service is set to be swallowed up by an even bigger brand based in the US.
As reported on Tuesday, 6 May, American delivery firm DoorDash – the biggest of its kind in the States – looks set to complete an estimated £2.9 billion buyout, which will see Deliveroo folded into their growing global portfolio.
This massive deal will see the company’s presence in more than 40 countries further consolidated, already serving somewhere in the region of 50 million customers every month.
According to the likes of Reuters, Bloomberg and BBC, DoorDash is offering 180p per share, which is a 44% increase on Deliveroo’s share price from the point when initial takeover talks were made public in April 2025.
Speaking in a joint statement on the impending buyout, the two firms said: “The combination with Deliveroo will strengthen DoorDash’s position as a leading global platform in local commerce.”
Founded by chief executive Will Shu back in 2013, Deliveroo is now considered one of the big three in the food delivery industry’s UK scene, but is set to get much bigger under the DoorDash umbrella.
As for DoorDash, CEO and co-founder Tony Xu went on to add: “Coming together with teams that have similar visions and values accelerates our work to achieve that mission. Deliveroo is just such a team and one that I have long admired.
“Like DoorDash, Deliveroo is obsessively focused on their customers – consumers, merchants, and riders. They work day in and day out to improve their consumer value proposition, bring new services to local businesses, and offer flexibility and support to riders.”
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This isn’t the only big move they’ve made even just this week; in fact, the giant not only purchased Deliveroo but also New York’s restaurant technology company, SevenRooms Inc., which means they have forked out over $5bn in roughly five hours.
Put simply, this seriously big business and even bigger money that could make a big impact on UK hospitality and culinary convenience.
Obviously, full ratification via the SEC and so on is yet to be announced, but it looks like pretty much a done deal already.
So yeah, be prepared to see the name DoorDash being advertised up and down the country a lot more moving forward.
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Featured Images — @shopblocks/Focal Foto (via Flickr)
Business
Global sportswear brand PUMA to open new UK HQ in £87m Manchester development
Emily Sergeant
PUMA is set to open its new UK headquarters right here in Manchester.
It has been announced that the global sportswear brand has agreed a 20,000 sq ft lease of cutting-edge workspace in what is turning out to be one of the city’s most exciting destinations for technology, digital innovation, and creative businesses, Circle Square.
Set to take shape on the Oxford Road Corridor, PUMA’s new HQ will be in the £87 million development being brought forward by Bruntwood SciTech – which is a joint venture between property developers Bruntwood, L&G (Legal & General), and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
No.3 Circle Square, which is where PUMA will be calling home, forms the latest phase of the neighbourhood’s ‘masterplan’, offering 15 floors of new workspace focused on innovation businesses.
According to developers, the building is currently finalising construction and will open this summer.
PUMA may already have an existing small presence in Manchester, but this move sees the brand relocate its UK HQ from London to Manchester.
The new Manchester HQ will be home to the company’s sales, marketing, merchandising, finance, people and operations, and direct to consumer departments.
PUMA says its new Manchester base will allow it to work side-by-side with existing forward-thinking and disruptive businesses and institutions that are already located at the Circle Square campus, and in the wider city centre, and provide it with new opportunities to collaborate and innovate as it continues to focus on innovation and advancing performance.
The location will also put PUMA on the doorstep of the city’s world-leading academic institutions too, giving it access to Manchester’s top STEM and creative talent in the city.
“The move to Circle Square and state-of-the-art facilities on offer forms a key part of our strategy for providing PUMA’s employees with a first class working environment with top facilities and amenities,” commented Lucynda Davies, who is PUMA’s UK Managing Director, as the new UK HQ was announced this week.
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“Being surrounded by such a strong line up of industry was an important factor, and to find somewhere in the heart of Manchester’s thriving tech community is exactly what we hoped for.
“We’ve already experienced many of the gains that a thriving city like Manchester affords… and now, through our new UK HQ, we look forward to further integrating ourselves in the city’s innovative community.”
Featured Image – Bruntwood SciTech
The Manc -
1st February 2021 
