What does a letting agent in Worthing cost? Management fees explained, and why we charge from 7% + VAT

If you own a rental property in Worthing or Tarring, one of the first questions you will ask a letting agent is simple: what will it cost? Letting agent fees in Worthing, as everywhere in the UK, can look confusing at first. Agents offer different levels of service, quote fees in different ways, and do not always make it obvious whether VAT is included. This guide explains how fees usually work, what to look out for when comparing quotes, and why we charge from 7% + VAT for full management.

The three main levels of service

Most letting agents offer some version of three services. The names vary, but the idea is the same. Tenant find (sometimes called let only). The agent markets your property, carries out viewings, references the tenant and sets up the tenancy. After that, you manage the property yourself. This is usually a one-off fee. Rent collection. As well as finding the tenant, the agent collects the rent each month and chases late payments. Repairs, maintenance and day-to-day questions from the tenant usually stay with you. Full management. The agent does all of the above and also acts as the point of contact for your tenants, organises repairs and maintenance, and keeps you updated. For many landlords, especially those with busy lives or more than one property, this is the service that takes the headache away.

Typical letting agent fees in the UK

There is no official price list, and fees vary by area, agent and property. As a rough guide, recent UK industry guides suggest: Tenant find: typically around 8% to 12% of the first year’s rent plus VAT, or roughly one month’s rent, charged as a one-off fee. Rent collection: typically somewhere around 3% to 12% of the monthly rent plus VAT. Full management: typically around 10% to 15% of the monthly rent plus VAT for many agents, which works out at roughly 12% to 18% once VAT is added. Some larger agents charge more. These are broad market ranges, not fixed prices, and individual quotes can sit above or below them. The most useful thing you can do is compare quotes for the same level of service, on the same basis.

Why “+ VAT” matters when you compare quotes

Letting agent fees are normally subject to VAT at 20%. Some agents quote their percentage before VAT and some include it, so two quotes that look similar can be quite different in practice. Always check whether a figure includes VAT before you compare it with another. Here is a simple worked example. Say your property lets for £1,000 a month and your agent charges 7% + VAT for full management:

• 7% of £1,000 is £70
• VAT at 20% on £70 is £14
• So the monthly fee is £84, or £1,008 over a year

Now compare that with a full management fee of 12% + VAT on the same rent. That is £120 plus £24 VAT, or £144 a month, which is £1,728 a year. The difference is £60 a month, or £720 a year, on just one property. When you are comparing letting agent fees in Worthing, it is worth writing each quote out in pounds per month, including VAT. It makes the real cost much easier to see.

Hidden costs to watch for

The headline percentage is only part of the story. Before you sign up with any agent, ask for a full list of charges and look out for extras such as: Set-up or administration fees charged at the start of a tenancy, sometimes on top of a tenant find fee. Renewal or rent review fees. Since fixed terms were replaced by rolling tenancies in England, these may now appear as fees for handling rent increase notices or tenancy paperwork. Inventory and check-out charges, which can be priced separately and vary with the size of the property. Deposit registration, referencing and paperwork fees, and charges for chasing late rent or sending letters. None of these are necessarily wrong, but they add up. A lower headline fee with lots of extras can end up costing more than a higher fee that includes most things.

What our full management from 7% + VAT includes

We are a letting and property management business based in our office at 36 South Street, Tarring, Worthing. We started as local landlords ourselves, so we built the service we wanted for our own properties. Our Full Management Service is from 7% + VAT. It includes everything in our tenant find service: we meet with you to discuss your needs, advertise the property, do all the viewings, take credit checks and references, submit the deposit to the government-approved scheme and prepare the tenancy agreement. On top of that, we act as the ongoing point of contact for your tenants, day or night, consult with you on any major maintenance, collect the rent each month and aim to forward it to you the same day we receive it. We use local trusted firms for repairs, maintenance and servicing, and keep you updated as much or as little as you like. Got a portfolio? If you bring several properties to Castle, we may be able to offer an even lower rate. We do not charge extra for the tenancy agreement, for submitting the deposit to the government-approved scheme, for sending letters chasing payment or for advice. If you would rather manage the property yourself, our Tenant Intro Service starts from £199. We find and set up the tenant, then hand over to you, and we are always at the end of the phone if you need a little advice. Some services are charged separately, including Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), gas safety certificates, electrical safety certificates (EICR), inventories and property maintenance.

Switch and save up to 40%

On average, landlords using another agent can cut their letting agent fees by 40% by switching to us. If you think of property management as a service like gas or electricity, would you change supplier to save 40%? You do not need to wait for your current tenant to move out. Keep the same tenant and switch your property management.

Why good management matters more than ever

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 brought the biggest changes to renting in England for decades. From 1 May 2026, section 21 “no-fault” evictions ended, fixed-term tenancies became rolling periodic tenancies, and new rules apply to rent increases, rent in advance and requests to keep pets. Landlords still have many existing obligations too, from deposit protection to gas and electrical safety. That means more paperwork and more rules to get right. A good managing agent who keeps up with the changes is worth more than ever, and the fee is only one part of the value.

Talk to a local letting agent in Worthing

Full management from 7% + VAT. Call 01903 539421. Find out more about our letting and property management services for landlords, or contact us to talk about your property. You are welcome to visit our office at 36 South Street, Tarring, Worthing, BN14 7LH.