The Unlikely Landlord PropertiesGet in touch

Essex · East London · Leicestershire

Truly hands-off property management

Property shaped around possability.

Your rent, guaranteed — every month, without exception. We manage your property day to day and handle the cosmetics, including properties that need a little love, so you never have to chase a tenant, cover a void, or worry about missed payments.

Rent protection is through insurance we arrange and pay for in your name; if rent is unpaid, you claim directly from the insurer.

Free rental assessmentHow it works

A family-run business — meet Viola & A.J.

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

No deal goes ahead until it's proven on the numbersProfessional processes, full documentation and a direct line to the directors.

The everyday reality

Sound familiar?

Empty rooms, ticking costs

Missed the student intake, losing out to newer builds — every empty week still costs you.

Paying to own it

Mortgage, utilities and council tax — sometimes up to 150% — even when nobody's living there.

Rent that stops coming

Arrears and non-payment don't pause your mortgage.

Calls you don't have time for

Repairs, emergencies, viewings — management eats into evenings and weekends that should be yours.

Trashed, and no idea what to do

Damage, broken furniture, rooms you don't want to walk into.

Rules that keep changing

HMO licensing, safety certificates, Article 4 — with no spare capital to bring a tired property up to standard.

Paying 10–12% and still exposed

Agency fees on top of the voids, turnover and maintenance costs you're already absorbing.

See how we fix this

Full property management

The day-to-day, taken care of

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.

A characterful living room being carefully restored, bathed in golden light

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 possability.”

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

What we do

Built around landlords who want simplicity

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.

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, so it improves as part of our agreement, with any bigger jobs discussed and agreed with you first.

How it works

From our first chat to protected rent in five steps

  1. 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. 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. 3

    Getting the property ready

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

  4. 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. 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.

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