A new self-management platform for landlords has launched claiming that it can do everything a lettings agency can but at a fraction of the cost and ‘in minutes’.
Cohab says its self-managed platform streamlines every aspect of the rental management process, from property listings, tenant screening and automated rent collection.
The new platform also allows landlords to create customisable listings, with the ability to update property details, descriptions and photos.
The Cohab platform is free to use, with the ability to add additional premium features, for example, listing your property on Rightmove if needed.
In addition, Cohab’s compliance tools are designed to keep landlords compliant in the ever changing landscape of rental market reforms.
What’s more, potential tenants can utilise the Cohab platform to secure a rental property on the spot, with the website providing the ability to generate and sign contracts digitally.
Cohab’s landlords are also able to log, track and resolve maintenance requests to ensure tenants are provided within fit for purpose accommodation – a feature that the platform’s founder and CEO of Cohab, Saveli Kotz, hopes will add considerable value ahead of incoming Renters’ Rights Bill and the Decent Homes Standard.
Kotz, commented: “The profit margins of the nation’s landlords have been continuously dented in recent years due to a string of government legislative changes and, as a result, we’re seeing a higher proportion choose to self manage in order to streamline management costs.
“The issue is that this can be stressful and time consuming, requiring them to juggle emails, paperwork and compliance requirements. Time, cost and compliance are the three key pillars that many landlords focus their portfolio around and, with the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill this year, the strains of these obligations are only going to grow all the larger.
“Despite this, to date, there has been no real technology offering designed to lighten the load of self-management within the rental sector, with platforms such as OpenRent only serving to address one particular issue.
“We’ve decided to address this issue and, having already built a bespoke property management system, we’ve now driven our innovation of the sector to new heights with the launch of our self-management offering.
“It’s a complete, end-to-end software platform that streamlines every single aspect of the lettings process, ensuring that our users can quickly and seamlessly manage their portfolio whilst also remaining fully compliant.
“We’re extremely proud of what we’ve managed to achieve and we can’t wait to see the impact it is going to make on the lettings sector and we’re currently looking for industry partners to help scale our product at speed to bring even further benefit to the nation’s self-managing property owners.”
I have nothing against tech solutions — it’s what I do. But there comes a point in a service industry where you simply can’t save the one thing that matters most… the service itself.
For the average rent collected by an average letting agent, full management works out at about 20p an hour.
And for that, landlords are spared:
– chasing arrears and juggling accounts
– wrestling with compliance
– advertising, tenant vetting, deposit handling
– managing voids, emergencies, and repairs
– and handling all the people and problems that come with property.
20p an hour. That’s not a cost — it’s extraordinary value.
No, the agent doesn’t change the lightbulb.
But they know who can, who’s available, and who won’t let you down.
That is the service.
So when I see another platform promising to “do everything an agent does, but cheaper,” I smile.
Because tech can automate a lot — but it can’t replace judgement, experience, or the quiet competence of a professional who already knows the answer before you’ve asked the question.
You can’t automate trust.
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I don’t think one could enhance on the thoughts of Robert.
Simply, well put my friend!
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It’s exciting to see tech-driven platforms challenging the traditional letting model. For landlords who are confident managing their own properties, a free service like this could really cut down on costs and admin time. Plus, anything that brings more transparency and simplicity to the rental process is a step in the right direction.
That said, letting agents still provide valuable expertise—especially for new landlords or those managing multiple properties. Hopefully, platforms like this can complement rather than replace the human touch where it’s still needed.
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Yawn Yawn…
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I thought cohab was living together without the benefits of marriage or a civil partnership.
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