When a brand you trusted changes hands, it can feel like the ground moved without warning. You didn’t necessarily invest in Canterbury or across Kent to become a line on a dashboard; you invested for dependable income, long-term security, capital growth of your asset and the satisfaction of owning something real. This isn’t about criticising anyone. It’s about choosing the kind of relationship you want with the people who look after what you own. At Sandersons UK, we’re solely and independently owned. That matters because decisions are made here, by a team who live and work in the same streets as your tenants and understand the micro-nuances that protect value, such as which areas pull longer term tenancies, why student properties demand a different launch plan, how a small leak today becomes a big bill tomorrow if it’s missed etc.

Behind every calm tenancy sits an engine room most landlords never see. There are well over 160 laws and obligations shaping what good management looks like, and updates rarely arrive with fanfare. We carry that weight. We begin with a full compliance check to close gaps, schedule inspections and keep records airtight so if a notice ever needs serving or a dispute needs evidence, your position is clean and defensible. 

Marketing and management sit under one roof. Our in-house photographers and straight-forward walk-through videos let the right renters see the whole picture without smoke and mirrors. Applicants are pre-qualified by experienced negotiators before they even view followed by a rigorous referencing process conducted by the same local team. Feedback is provided to the landlord at every point from the team based at our Castle Street office.

Tenancy and guarantor agreements are watertight and signed electronically. Then you are introduced to your dedicated property manager, a specialist who is office based in our Canterbury team who knows your file, answers the phone and takes responsibility.

Day-to-day detail is where money is made or lost. Tenants report maintenance 24/7 through our online portal with built-in troubleshooting, which cuts avoidable call-outs and keeps relationships positive. Property visits are documented properly so there’s a clear condition baseline at the inventory stage, during the tenancy and check-out. Credit control is handled firmly in-house with a track record that keeps arrears rare and short-lived. Because we know that life happens with possible illness, redundancy, separation, relocations we can add rent protection and legal cover so income keeps landing and your case is represented without stress. None of this is glamorous. It is simply what looking after people and property well looks like.

If your previous agent has been acquired and you’re unsure what that means, here’s the bit most landlords aren’t told clearly. Your tenancy is with your tenant, management is a service you can change. The transition is straightforward when it’s done properly. We review the agreement you signed with your current agent and set out any notice or fees in plain English. With your instruction, we liaise with them directly to collect everything that’s yours such as keys, safety certificates, inventories, tenancy agreements, deposit registration details and statements. We arrange a clean transfer of the deposit to our scheme, update your Section 48 address, switch standing orders and introduce ourselves to your tenant so rent day doesn’t miss a beat. The tone is calm and professional. The outcome is control back where it belongs with you and retained locally rather than centralised in a more corporate headquarters.

From there we set the rhythm that suits how you work. Some landlords want monthly touchpoints and detailed visit notes. Others prefer to hear from us only when a decision is needed. Either way, you’ll get straight advice on pricing, renewals and improvements that protect value, can improve capital growth, with timing that avoids voids. If a re-let is approaching, we plan the launch and pre-empt any maintenance. If a modest fix now avoids a larger repair later, we’ll say so and show the numbers. If a tenant needs a firm line, we’ll hold it. If they need a fair hearing, we’ll offer it. That balance is how tenancies last and portfolios perform.

Choosing an independent agent isn’t choosing small, it’s choosing focus, dedication and a more personal service. It’s choosing a team whose accountability starts and ends in Canterbury, whose reputation is built one conversation at a time, and who understand that you didn’t buy a property to chase updates or wonder whether a notice will stand up. You bought it to work cleanly, compliantly and with as little friction as possible, while real people represent you to professionally manage your tenants and your asset.

If you’re perfectly happy where you are, stay where you are. Loyalty counts. If you’re uneasy about the shift or simply want a second opinion, we’ll make it easy to explore without pressure. If you’d like a discreet portfolio review covering compliance, rent level and risk exposure, please get in touch with our Canterbury team and we’ll share a concise, no-obligation assessment. If you already know you want to move, we can map the timeline, handle the paperwork and manage the introductions so your tenants feel supported and your income stays uninterrupted. Local care, clear accountability and a service that sees you for you, that’s what we mean by independent.