Is Property Management Moving Toward a Subscription Economy?
- Milton Jannusch
- Dec 10
- 3 min read
And What That Means for Letting Agents**
Subscriptions have quietly taken over the world. From Netflix to gym memberships to SaaS tools — people now expect tiered pricing, bundled services, and predictable monthly value.
But here’s the question no one in the UK lettings industry is asking loudly enough:
👉 Is property management next?
👉 Are tenants and landlords already behaving like subscription customers?
👉 And should agents rethink their entire pricing model before the industry evolves without them?
At Pro Property London, we see the signs everywhere — agencies shifting from “fee-per-service” thinking toward “value-led packaged solutions.”
Let’s unpack what a subscription economy could look like in lettings… and whether agents are ready for it.
📦 The Subscription Economy: Already Here, Just Not Recognised
Look closely and you’ll realise lettings already behaves like a subscription:
Monthly management fees
Recurring compliance checks
Annual renewals
Mid-tenancy inspections
Tenancy creation and exit charges
These are all recurring services. They just aren’t packaged, priced, or presented that way.
Imagine what happens if the industry does shift to a subscription model:
Instead of:
Management fee
Compliance fee
Inventory fee
Renewal fee
You get:
Tier 1: Essentials Plan
Basic legal compliance + management + inspections
Tier 2: Premium Plan
Add rent guarantee, additional communications, enhanced reporting
Tier 3: Executive Plan
Everything above + maintenance oversight + landlord portfolio reviews + advanced analytics
This is how SaaS companies scale. Lettings could do the same.
🧠 Why Subscriptions Might Be the Future of Lettings
1️⃣ Predictability for Both Agents and Landlords
Agents get reliable recurring revenue. Landlords understand exactly what they’re paying for.
No chasing fees, no confusion, no friction.
2️⃣ Clarity in Value
Most landlords don’t understand half the services agents deliver.
A subscription model reframes value clearly:
“Here’s what you get monthly.”
“Here’s what you get annually.”
“Here’s what’s included vs. extra.”
3️⃣ Better Retention
Subscriptions create stickiness. Once a landlord is enrolled in a plan that delivers proactive support, switching becomes inconvenient.
Think about your own subscription stack —How many services do you mean to cancel but don’t?
Exactly.
4️⃣ Upsell Opportunities Become Natural
Instead of awkward, reactive upsells (“We can add rent guarantee for an extra fee…”), you shift to:
“Would you like to upgrade to the Premium Plan?”
Everyone understands upgrades. It removes discomfort from the sales process.
5️⃣ Better Alignment With Tenant Expectations
Tenants are already used to subscription-style services in every aspect of life.
A premium tenancy experience — proactive communication, digital tools, fast maintenance responses — feels familiar and valuable.
🚧 Why the Industry Isn’t There Yet
❌ Legacy pricing models
Created decades ago, still being used today.
❌ Fear of changing the fee structure
Agents worry landlords will resist change.
❌ Lack of clarity in service value
If agents can’t articulate what they do, they can’t package it.
❌ Poor internal systems
Subscription models only work if your operation is consistent.
🚀 What Agents Can Do Now to Prepare
Here’s how to future-proof your model today:
1️⃣ Document everything you offer
You can’t sell value you can’t describe.
2️⃣ Bundle your services into logical categories
Compliance, communication, inspections, financials, maintenance.
3️⃣ Introduce “good-better-best” pricing
Make the choice feel like an upgrade, not a risk.
4️⃣ Deliver a premium experience at the top tier
Better reporting, portfolio reviews, proactive recommendations.
5️⃣ Ensure your systems can support consistency
Without operational discipline, subscription models fall apart.
📍 Our Take at Pro Property London
Whether the UK market adopts true subscription pricing or not, the mindset behind it is the future:
✔️ Predictability
✔️ Transparency
✔️ Tiered value
✔️ Recurring revenue
✔️ Customer retention
The agents who embrace this thinking early will not only price better — they’ll compete better, scale better, and retain better.
Subscriptions aren’t just a pricing model. They’re an evolution in how agencies deliver value.
📞 020 3866 3808