The 6 Mistakes Killing Your Rental ROI (That Self-Managing Landlords Don’t Realise They’re Making)

Managing your own rental property sounds like a smart move — and in many cases, it is. You save on agent fees, keep full control, and build a closer relationship with your tenants.

But here’s the catch: small mistakes can quietly eat away at your rental income without you even realising.

At NUVO Lettings, we’ve helped dozens of landlords across Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire boost their ROI — whether they’re self-managing or using us as a low-cost alternative. Here are six of the most common ways landlords lose money (and how to stop it).

1. Underpricing Your Property (or Not Raising Rents)

It’s common for self-managing landlords to undercharge out of fear they’ll lose tenants. Or they forget to review rents yearly — especially if the tenant “seems nice”.

In Crewe and Stoke, room rates and rental values have shifted massively in the last 12–18 months. We often see landlords still charging 2021 prices — losing £1,000–£2,000 a year, per property.

What to do: Review local comparables every 6 months. If you’re not sure, we’ll happily give you a free rent review with no obligation.

2. Getting Void Management Wrong

Voids are one of the biggest ROI killers — especially for HMOs.

If you list a room late, advertise it poorly, or don’t reply to tenant messages quickly, you could lose weeks (or months) of rent. That’s often more expensive than a year’s management fee.

What to do: Start marketing as soon as notice is given. Use platforms like Spareroom, Facebook and WhatsApp groups. We fill most rooms within 7–10 days using our system.

3. Using the Wrong Tradespeople

We’ve seen landlords spend £200+ on small repairs that should’ve cost £40. Or worse — they hire someone who bodges the job, causing more expensive problems down the line.

What to do: Build a small go-to list of trusted trades. At NUVO, we use reliable, cost-effective contractors for our own portfolio — and share them with our landlords.

4. Weak or Outdated Tenancy Agreements

If your tenancy agreement is vague, outdated or something you grabbed off Google 5 years ago, you might be exposed — especially with the Renters Reform Bill coming.

No clear clauses = fewer rights when things go wrong.

What to do: Update your tenancy agreements regularly, especially with legal changes like the end of Section 21. We use tenancy templates that are already RRB-ready.

5. Not Documenting Tenant Communication Properly

Verbal chats are great — until they’re not.

If a tenant stops paying or breaches the agreement, the court (or even just negotiation) will favour the party with clear evidence. Too many landlords rely on text threads or informal chats that don’t hold up.

What to do: Log all notices, rent chases and issues via email or digital tools. Even if you self-manage, use a simple online tracker. We include this in our full management system.

6. Spending Time on Low-Value Tasks

DIY landlords often spend hours chasing keys, booking inspections, or fielding 10pm maintenance calls — when their time would be better spent working, growing their portfolio or enjoying life.

You might save money… but at what cost to your time, stress and sanity?

What to do: Know your own value. If managing the property yourself doesn’t suit your time, energy or skill set, hand it to someone who treats your property like their own (that’s us).

You Don’t Need to Use an Agent — But You Do Need Systems

At NUVO, we believe that self-managing is the best option — if you do it right. That’s why we’re building tools and training for landlords who want to stay hands-on but do it better.

And for those who are done with the hassle? We offer low-cost, investor-led management across Cheshire that protects your income without costing the earth.

Want to Know What’s Hurting Your ROI?

📞 Book a free portfolio health check

📧 Or email us your current setup and we’ll give honest, no-pressure feedback

Stop the quiet leaks in your profits — and start managing like an investor.