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Indicators that you should use an agent - practical advice

You are letting an upmarket property where the prospective tenants are more likely to deal with an agent.
You live too far away from the property. For example you live in Aberdeen and the property is in Plymouth.
Shortage of time. Managing or letting a property can be more time consuming than is imagined. When looking for a tenant for the property, you need to be there to answer the phone and deal with queries. If all the caller gets is no reply or an answering machine, they will try elsewhere. Managing the property does not involve just collecting the rent; in particular you need to have time available during the working day.
Susceptibility to stress and “hassle”. You need to be of a reasonably robust temperament to deal firmly and fairly with the occasional bad tenant. The demands involved in managing property are often unexpected, and the people you are dealing with do not always do what they say they are going to do. You may well have to get involved in court appearances. The agent can act as a useful intermediary between the landlord and a difficult tenant.
Confidence in your management skills and knowledge. Managing a property properly requires a certain basic level of knowledge of legal requirements.
If you own a large House in Multiple Occupation (or other property) which has a higher turnover of tenants or requires more intensive management.

Resource 5 of 14 in Using an Agent