Landlords in Wales are among the most exposed in the UK to reputational damage and regulatory scrutiny due to a widespread lack of out-of-hours property management support, new data from Adiuvo has revealed.
The findings show that 65.4% of landlords in Wales operate without any form of out-of-hours (OOH) cover for maintenance, management or emergency callouts – the highest proportion in the UK.
The North West (61.2%) and North East (61.0%) follow closely behind, while even in London, where rental demand and density are highest, more than six in ten landlords lack comprehensive support outside standard working hours.
By contrast, landlords in Scotland appear better prepared, with less than half (45.3%) reporting no cover. Northern Ireland (47.1%) and the East of England (50.5%) also rank among the regions with greater provision in place.
TENANT DISSATISFACTION
The analysis builds on earlier research by Adiuvo which estimated that 57% of landlords nationwide operate without any form of out-of-hours contingency – a gap that leaves many vulnerable to escalating repair costs, tenant dissatisfaction and legal exposure.
Adiuvo, which provides round-the-clock property management services to letting agents, landlords and tenants across the UK, warns that regional disparities in preparedness reflect not just differences in rental market maturity, but also varying levels of awareness of the commercial risks linked to unmonitored emergencies.
NO SAFETY NET
Colin Stokes, Founder and Managing Director of Adiuvo, says: “Any landlord knows that property issues don’t stick to office hours.
“A boiler failure on a freezing night or an overnight water leak isn’t just inconvenient – it can escalate into a full-blown emergency before morning. Yet far too many landlords are still gambling with no safety net in place when these crises strike.
“The consequences of lacking out-of-hours cover can be catastrophic. A slow response can mean thousands in additional damage, legal liability, and, in worst cases, serious risks to tenant health and safety.”
REPUTATIONAL RISK
“In today’s world of social media and online reviews, one mishandled emergency can permanently damage a landlord’s reputation or attract regulatory attention.
“Out-of-hours support is neither complicated nor prohibitively expensive. It’s a simple, proactive safeguard that can mean the difference between a contained issue and a crisis spiralling out of control.”
