If you’ve been a landlord long enough, you’ve probably had at least one call at 11pm about a boiler breakdown. Or lost an hour chasing a contractor who forgot the access code. Or worse, dealt with damage that spiralled because a tenant didn’t report it properly.
These aren’t just annoyances. They cost you time, money, and peace of mind.
But something’s shifted — and quickly. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword for big tech companies. It’s starting to touch the day-to-day realities of landlords, and for the first time, it might actually help us get less involved.
The Problem Isn’t Just Maintenance — It’s the Admin Around It
Most landlords don’t mind fixing things when they break. The issue is everything else:
- Tenants report problems in vague or inconsistent ways
- You have to translate that into something a contractor understands
- Then chase them, coordinate timings, update the tenant, repeat
- And somehow keep a record of all this (for the next compliance check)
This is the “busywork” that eats into your evenings and weekends — especially if you manage more than a handful of properties or rely on a part-time team.
AI Can Now Do the First 5 Steps — Before You Even Log In
That’s where AI has started to make a real dent.
At PropServ, we built a tool that lets tenants report maintenance issues using plain language. The AI responds with smart follow-up questions (like “is water leaking?” or “can you share a photo?”) and instantly turns that into a structured report — complete with urgency level, access notes, and contractor-ready detail.
The landlord? You just get a ping with everything you need — and one click sends it to your chosen contractor or ours. No back and forth. No miscommunication.
It’s like having a virtual assistant who never sleeps, never forgets, and doesn’t mind asking annoying follow-up questions.
What It Means for Landlords (Especially Self-Managers)
We work with over 160 agencies and landlords, and the same pattern is emerging:
- Tenants are happier because they don’t have to chase
- Contractors respond faster because they get clarity upfront
- Landlords spend less time in the weeds
- Issues get resolved before they become expensive
Some landlords use it just for reporting. Others use our network of vetted contractors across the UK. A few are earning extra by referring buyers, sellers, and movers into the platform — and getting paid per job when they do.
But the core idea is simple:
You shouldn’t have to run your property portfolio like a 24/7 call centre.
AI lets you delegate the chaos — without lowering standards.
Is It the Future?
It’s early days, but the signs are promising.
More AI tools are being built that focus on the practical realities of renting, letting, and maintaining homes. The challenge will be making sure they fit how landlords actually work — not forcing a full system overhaul just to gain a few features.
We’ve tried to build PropServ around that idea: light-touch, landlord-friendly, and focused on what actually saves time.
You can try it at PropServ, or just email me (sam@propserv.co) if you want to see how it works.
But whether you use AI or not — one thing is clear:
The days of chasing boiler manuals at midnight might finally be behind us.
Sam Smith
Founder, PropServ
