Am Living

AM Living is a hybrid letting agency and property management company based in Norwich, United Kingdom. The firm operates with a main office situated near Norwich Train Station, complemented by a remote team, allowing for a flexible operational structure. Established in 2012 by Matthew Willcock, the company was founded following his experience investing in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in 2011, where he identified a need for specialist property management providers in the region. Since its inception, AM Living has expanded its services to encompass lettings and management for a range of residential properties, including single-family lets, multi-let properties, and both student and professional HMO properties.

The company's approach to property management is centered on managing landlords' properties in a manner consistent with how landlords would manage their own. This involves comprehensive oversight of compliance, conducting necessary checks and audits, and providing full tenant management services. AM Living states that it achieves a 99% occupancy rate for its managed stock, with an average room-filling time of four days, and reports 100% customer satisfaction. The firm also provides a 24/7 emergency response service for managed properties.

AM Living aims to meet high industry standards, offering services that extend beyond those typically provided by a traditional high street letting agent. The company's experienced team assists landlords with various aspects of property management, including health and safety considerations, interior design advice, marketing strategies, and maintenance coordination. For managed properties, the firm undertakes monthly inspections for HMOs and quarterly inspections for single-let properties, providing landlords with written and photographic reports. Additional services include annual PAT testing, five-yearly electrical safety inspections (EICR), annual gas safety inspections, and assistance with HMO licensing and fire alarm/extinguisher testing.

The company possesses specific expertise in student letting and HMO property management. It provides comprehensive support for these property types, including marketing properties on platforms such as RightMove, UniHomes, and SparerRoom. For student group HMO properties, listings are typically made available in the first week of November for the subsequent academic year. Professional HMOs, which involve rooms in shared houses, are generally managed with a lead time of four to six weeks.

The tenant-find service includes market appraisals, property photography, tenant introductions to existing housemates in HMOs, and thorough vetting processes such as obtaining references, credit checks, identification verification, Right to Rent checks, and proof of affordability. The firm also assists with guarantor organization, tenancy agreement preparation, and the protection of deposits with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS). AM Living operates with a transparent fee structure for its various management services. Rent Collection Only management fees are 4% per calendar month on rent.

Single Let management fees are 8% per calendar month on rent, while Student HMO management fees are 10% per calendar month on rent. Professional HMO management fees are 12% per calendar month on rent. The company's tenant find service is charged at 50% of the first month's rent for managed properties and one full month's rent for unmanaged properties. Additionally, a fee of 20% of total costs is applied for any bills or maintenance managed solely on behalf of the landlord.

VAT has been applicable to these fees since April 4, 2022.