The Unlikely Landlord Properties
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A cosy living room with a warm fire, plum sofa and a steaming cup of tea

You're currently viewing as a Landlord

Essex · East London · Leicestershire

Tired of empty rooms, unpaid rent, and calls you don't have time for?

Void periods, arrears, and agency fees eating into your return — we take it all off your plate, so owning a property finally feels the way it should.

See how it works

Every deal is checked against our own strict criteria before we commitProfessional processes, full documentation and a direct line to the directors.

Sound familiar?

Empty rooms. Unpaid rent. Repair calls at all hours.

The reality of managing property alone — and exactly what we take off your plate.

See how we fix this

What we do

Truly hands-off property management

Think of it as a hands-off partnership: you stay the owner, we take care of everything that comes with letting it out — the work, the risk, and the day-to-day.

We pay you a fixed rent every month, whether the property is occupied or not. As an extra layer of protection, we also arrange and pay for rent protection insurance in your name.

Guaranteed, protected rent

Your rental income is protected for the length of our agreement, so unpaid rent is never something you have to chase or absorb yourself.

Full property management

We handle the day-to-day: finding and looking after tenants, maintenance, inspections and compliance. You keep full visibility with regular updates, without any of the legwork.

Condition-first approach

Tired, dated or "difficult" homes are exactly what we look for. We invest in bringing the property back to life as part of our agreement, with any bigger jobs discussed and agreed with you first.

No management fees. No letting fees. Nothing deducted — the rent we agree is the rent you receive.

A row of characterful brick houses at dusk with warm light in the windows

Ready to stop managing it yourself?

Get your free rental assessment
A warm hallway with a patterned stair runner and plum-painted panelling

How it works

From our first chat to protected rent in five steps

  1. A friendly conversation

    Tell us about your property and what you're looking for. We'll give you a free, no-obligation rental assessment and an honest view of what we could offer.

  2. A clear written offer

    We propose a fixed monthly rent, guaranteed for the length of our agreement, plus the terms — in plain English, with nothing buried in the small print.

  3. Getting the property ready

    We handle preparation, any agreed improvements and the compliance checks, before we start letting.

  4. We let and manage

    We find and look after the people living there, handle maintenance and inspections, and pay your rent on the agreed day each month — every month.

  5. A long-term partnership

    You get regular updates and a well-cared-for property, returned to you in good condition at the end of the agreement.

See what your property could be earning

Get your free rental assessment
A wooden table with a notebook of floor plans, house keys and two mugs of tea

Our story

Two generations, one very unlikely name

We're Viola and A.J. — a mother and daughter, and the co-directors of The Unlikely Landlord. The name makes people smile, and it's meant to: we don't own a property empire, and we're not a faceless agency. We're a small family team that rents properties from landlords like you, looks after them as if they were our own, and makes renting simpler for everyone involved.

We bring real combined business and property experience to every partnership across Essex, East London, Leicestershire and surrounding areas. Our deals are assessed against our own strict return and risk criteria, and run on clear, professional processes and documentation, with support from trusted industry partners including Expert Property Shop where it makes sense. You get the rigour of a structured operation with something a big agency can't offer: our full attention, our direct contact details, and two generations who care deeply about getting this right.

“Property shaped around possibility.”

We Know Both Sides

We've been landlords and tenants. That means we understand what matters to both — and we never forget it.

Founder-Led, Always

We're a founder-led business, which means the people who built this are the people looking after your property. That's not something a big agency can offer.

Honest from Day One

We say what we mean and mean what we say. If something isn't the right fit, we'll tell you straight — because a relationship built on honesty is worth more than a quick deal.

Built on a Handshake

This is a family business. Our reputation is everything to us — which means your property and your home are in safe hands.

Meet the owners

The faces behind The Unlikely Landlord

We're a mother-and-daughter team running The Unlikely Landlord together — when you work with us, these are the people you'll actually speak to.

Headshot of Viola Sarna, co-director of The Unlikely Landlord
Viola SarnaCo-Director
Headshot of A.J. Dzienisz, co-director of The Unlikely Landlord
A.J. DzieniszCo-Director

FAQ

Your questions, answered

Straight answers for landlords. If your question isn't here, ask us directly — we're happy to help.

Landlord FAQs

Contact

Let's talk

Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, get in touch through the form. You'll speak to Viola or A.J. — not a call centre.

We aim to reply within two working days.

Send an enquiry

Please include the address of the property your enquiry relates to, if applicable — this helps us respond more accurately