Resignations, workplace perks & staff retention . 

Did you return to work in January to find a white envelope on your desk? The start of a new year often prompts change and there are probably a few lettings directors and property managers out there smarting over a resignation letter (or two).

If an envelope on your desk has rocked your team dynamic, or the thought of an employee handing in their notice leaves you in a panic, it might be time to think about your business operation.

HR managers and business owners who successfully retain staff have probably given careful thought to employee benefits – those little perks that keep moral high and team members loyal. Professional, experienced and qualified property personnel are hard to find so it’s worth holding on to the ones you do have – we should know, as we work hard to attract the very best lettings professionals to our outsource business. Rewarding staff with more than just a monthly salary is the key to retention and some lateral thinking might make you the employer everyone wants to work for.

In days gone by a gilt-edged pension and car allowance was standard when it came to employee perks but every-day benefits – those that make a difference on a weekly basis rather than in the long term – can pay the biggest dividends.

Some suggestions include:

  • Continually stocking the fridge with food and drink so employees can make their own lunch at no expense. You could even have a weekly food shop delivered to your office door.
  • Paying for a monthly team breakfast or lunch, fostering a good office spirit
  • A pass for a local gym or a de-stressing massage paid for every staff member once a month
  • One ‘leave work early’ or ‘start work late’ IOU for every team member, every four weeks
  • A choice of training/courses, to be taken every six months
  • A compressed hours option for staff – handy if you have extended opening hours and workers with children
  • A commission structure that is regularly reviewed to keep staff motivated
  • Commission-sharing – to include administration and weekend staff

Some of the best benefits are small but regular gestures; those that improve the skill set of staff and perks that help employees with time management. Of course, these ideas all need an investment from management but recruitment can be an expensive and time-consuming exercise, with the pool of genuine property talent seemingly smaller and smaller every year.

It’s better to concentrate efforts on your best staff and treat them like VIPs on a daily basis. Consider outsourcing elements of the business if someone resigns or retires. Outsourcing will often save businesses money, which can be ploughed back into staff benefits.

* Simon Duve is the Managing Director of ARPM Outsourced Lettings Support

 

ARPM

Simon Duce is the Founder and Managing Director of ARPM Outsourced Lettings Support - a business designed to help small and start-up letting agents/property managers offer a full suite of property management and tenancy administration services through outsourcing.

You May Also Enjoy

Damaged timber from Dry Rot
Estate Agent Talk

Mould and damp – what you need to know ahead of winter

With the winter months just round the corner, problems with damp and mould can become far more prominent. Autumntime is when many people turn on central heating systems and choose to close windows, preventing fresh air ventilation needed to allow damp air to leave a property. Unfortunately, the combination of warm and damp air can…
Read More
Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – September 2025

London and South East see biggest dips in required rental salary year-on-year London and the South East saw the sharpest dips year-on-year in the average salary needed in order to rent the average home in that area. London saw a 4.2% drop, whilst the South East saw a decline of 2.9%. Yorkshire and Humberside saw…
Read More
buying at auction uk
Breaking News

The cities where buying beats renting – with just a 5% deposit

British first-time buyer mortgage payments are typically 17% cheaper than renting, even with a low 5% deposit The average 5% deposit is £11,412 based on a typical first-time buyer property price of £228,233 Among major cities outside London, the biggest gap between owning and renting is in Glasgow, where buyers could save more than £4,750…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s Weekly Mortgage Rates Tracker

Average rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Average rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 4.51% +0.00% -0.37% 5-year fixed 4.55% +0.01% +0.01%   Lowest rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Lowest rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 3.77% +0.05% -0.07% 5-year fixed 3.97% +0.10% +0.29%   Average…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Data and commentary from Rightmove on stamp duty reforms

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert said: “We’ve been calling for stamp duty reform for some time now, as it’s a significant barrier for many people moving home. Abolishing it completely would remove one of the biggest barriers to moving, unlocking more moves at all stages of the property ladder. “Our data shows that only 5%…
Read More
Breaking News

Second-time buyers dominate demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals

Second-time buyers are dominating demand for longer term fixed mortgage deals, fresh data from Moneyfacts Analyser can reveal. Of those looking for fixed term deals on moneyfactscompare.co.uk: Almost two-thirds (58%) of second-time buyers who compared mortgage deals using the moneyfactscompare.co.uk website were considering terms of three years or longer in the 30 days to 1…
Read More