The verdict in three sentences
A London agency can manage units and instructions with a property SaaS (30-70 EUR/agent/month), but a custom build (45,000-100,000 EUR) is justified once lettings management and listings syndication become productivity levers. The lettings + rent-receipt module (8,000-16,000 EUR) and the listings portal (10,000 EUR) decide how many units an agent can manage. The trade-off comes down to units managed per agent.
Property SaaS or custom: the cost lines
SaaS covers the essentials (instructions, contacts, syndication) but limits lettings management. Custom adapts receipts, rent schedules and the portal to your methods. 2026 orders of magnitude for a 6-agent London agency.
| Item | Property SaaS | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Build / initial license | 0 EUR (subscription) | 45,000-100,000 EUR |
| Monthly cost per agent | 30-70 EUR | included in maintenance |
| Lettings + rent-receipt module | often partial | 8,000-16,000 EUR |
| Listings portal + site | add-on | 10,000 EUR |
| Monthly maintenance | included | 900-2,200 EUR |
| Vendor day rate | — | 500-700 EUR |
| Time to go live | 3-6 weeks | 10-18 weeks |
The lettings module is decisive: automatic receipts, arrears tracking and rent schedules save precious time and firm up rent collection.
Three-year comparison (6 agents)
| Scenario | Upfront | 3-year recurring | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS at 40 EUR/agent | 0 EUR | 8,640 EUR | 8,640 EUR |
| SaaS at 70 EUR/agent | 0 EUR | 15,120 EUR | 15,120 EUR |
| Custom 75,000 EUR + lettings 12,000 EUR | 87,000 EUR | 54,000 maintenance | 141,000 EUR |
SaaS stays lighter on cash. Custom becomes attractive when each agent can manage more units and tenancies thanks to tailored workflows, directly lifting management fees.
Mini case study
Mr. Hughes runs a 6-agent agency in London. He invests 75,000 EUR in custom software with a lettings + rent-receipt module (12,000 EUR), a listings portal (10,000 EUR) and 1,300 EUR/month maintenance. Thanks to automatic receipts and arrears tracking, each agent goes from 40 to 55 managed units. Across 6 agents that is 90 extra units; at an average management fee of 40 EUR/unit/month, that is 90 × 40 × 12 = 43,200 EUR/year in additional management revenue. The build pays back in under two years at full ramp-up.
FAQ
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Does a property SaaS handle lettings well?
Rarely in detail. Managing receipts, schedules and arrears often justifies a custom module at 8,000-16,000 EUR.
Is the listings portal worth the cost?
At around 10,000 EUR, a listings portal + site gives visibility and centralises leads, reducing dependence on third-party platforms.
How many more units can an agent manage?
With optimised lettings workflows, a gain of 10 to 15 units per agent is common, directly correlated with management fees.
How long for custom property software?
From 10 to 18 weeks depending on scope (instructions, lettings, portal). Clear scoping shortens it.
Does custom include a CRM?
Yes, it brings contacts, instructions, matching and follow-ups into a single tool aligned with your process, with no per-agent subscription.
Let's scope your project. Specify your number of agents, lettings volume and syndication needs: we will cost out the most profitable scenario, indicative budget 45,000-100,000 EUR by scope. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
