As experts in property management, Switch works with landlords across the UK to provide a stress-free, streamlined service, which maximises their income potential, minimises administrative burdens, and makes a positive social impact by supporting vulnerable families in need of long-term accommodation.
By providing a number of benefits and incentives for landlords – from guaranteed rental income, to property protection, underwritten bills and tenant management – we are committed to bridging the gap between the public and private sector. Working on behalf of local authorities, we’re improving landlord experiences, while collectively addressing the UK’s housing crisis.
But don’t just take our word for it. We recently caught up with one of our landlords to hear about her experience
The problem
Farnaz is a Manchester-based landlord with a portfolio of nearly 60 properties – including seven flats in Durham, which joined our Housing programme in August 2024.
As Farnaz expanded her property portfolio, she was finding it increasingly difficult to find and manage reliable tenants. In some cases, rental payments were delayed, or missed altogether.
She says: “If tenants choose to quit their job and can no longer pay rent, or refuse to pay for damages caused to the property, it is a difficult and lengthy process to evict them. Councils often tell tenants to stay put if served with an eviction notice, so the full process of going through the courts and removing them from the property can take up to four months.
“If they’re not making payments during this time, it leaves me out of pocket; I lose out on rent, have to pay the legal fees, and repair any property damages.
“When social housing is allocated, a lot of trust is placed on the tenants’ ability to manage their money properly. I have been a landlord for almost 20 years, so I know that you can’t rely on tenants to prioritise rent payments from their benefits. Without a direct payment guarantee from the local authority, there’s always a risk.”
The Renters Rights Bill, due to come into place at the end of this year, is expected to create greater protections for tenants. With this in mind, Farnaz wanted more income security and reliable occupiers for her properties.
The Switch solution
The Switch Housing programme aims to help rebuild trust and transparency between the private and public sectors, so that landlords and local authorities can work better together.
By leveraging our hospitality service expertise and addressing concerns with the support of a dedicated account manager, we aim to provide property owners with full assurance and protection in advance of any tenancy.
Farnaz continues: “As I live around three hours away from Durham, I had entrusted a local estate agent to find residents for the vacant flats. Unfortunately, they were struggling to find tenants that could pass the required credit and background checks, and suggested I got in touch with Switch Housing.
“I then spoke to Claire, who explained how the Housing programme worked and how they could help. She managed the entire onboarding process, took care of all the paperwork and ensured the flats were fully compliant – all I had to do was sign the contracts.”
A key benefit for Farnaz was our commitment to providing a two-year rental agreement, held directly between Switch and the landlord, to ensure full financial and property protection.
“It took a few months to find occupiers, but as Switch took on the tenancy, I get a guaranteed income for the duration of the agreement. This meant I was still receiving direct payments, despite the flats being unoccupied,” Farnaz explains.
“In comparison, local authorities would only usually allow direct payments to landlords if their tenants have built up between eight to 12 weeks of arrears, presenting a massive cashflow risk.”
As part of our property management services, our housing team complete in-depth property inspections every six months. We also provided a full induction for Farnaz’s tenants, many of whom were families that were being relocated from temporary accommodation in other areas of the UK, to ensure they were settled in their new homes.
Farnaz says: “It was such a relief to know I would receive a direct payment from day one, regardless of my tenants’ circumstances. In the past, I’ve had a lot of stress worrying whether I would get paid on time, and working with Switch completely removed that concern for me.
“I now have guaranteed monthly income and know that I won’t be losing time and money dealing with difficult tenants. Everyone that has moved in has been really lovely and respectful; there have been no problems at all.”
The results
Farnaz’s seven Durham-based properties are now managed by our Switch Housing team. She has seen the benefits of the service first-hand, particularly the one-to-one support provided by Switch’s Administration Manager, Claire.
Farnaz said: “Claire has been brilliant, she managed absolutely everything and I can’t praise her enough! I am really busy as a parent to two young children, but Claire has been so accommodating to my circumstances. She works around me and whenever I need something, and has made my life so much easier.
“Switch manage all aspects of the tenancy for me, and give me peace of mind that my properties will be well looked after. I would highly recommend them to any landlords struggling with difficult tenants or void periods, and am now talking to Claire about moving more of my properties onto the Housing programme.”
To find out how we can work together, contact Mikey Grewal: mikey.grewal@swhm.co.uk for more information and quote ‘website’
