A small, independent, family-run letting agent on the Sussex coast since 2008. You deal with the owners directly — the same faces year after year — and most of our landlords have stayed with us for the best part of two decades.
No estate agents, no suits, no glass-and-neon office on the high street, and we won’t plant an ugly board outside your home or clutter your street with one.
A quieter, more thoughtful approach to lettings. Personal, by design.
“We have been using Phillip James Lettings since 2008 to help us with 2 flats we rent out. Prior to that we used a couple of the bigger names out there but I'm so glad we made the change — and stuck to it!”
Realistic pricing, careful presentation, and proper marketing bring serious viewings quickly.
Every tenant is personally met and referenced by us before we recommend them to a landlord.
Monthly rent on the same date every month. If payments become late, we deal with it quickly and directly.
Problems are handled early, before they become bigger ones.
Gas, EICR, EPC, smoke and CO alarms, deposit registration — we track every expiry and organise renewals before they become urgent.
Quietly handled in the background.
You deal with the same small team year after year — not a rotating call centre or different departments.
We know the properties, the tenants, and the landlords personally.
No estate agents, no suits, no glass-and-neon office on the high street, and we won’t plant an ugly board outside your home or clutter your street with one.
Three tiers. Switch between them later if circumstances change.
Photography, marketing, accompanied viewings, full referencing, contracts, deposit registration, and move-in handled properly.
You take over the ongoing management once the tenancy begins.
Read moreEverything above, plus rent collection, maintenance coordination, inspections, renewals, and statutory compliance.
We handle the day-to-day running of the tenancy for you.
Read moreOptional protection alongside Fully Managed.
Monthly rent continues to be paid even if a tenant falls into arrears, backed by an insurance policy.
Read moreYou deal with the owners directly — the same faces year after year — and most of our landlords have stayed with us for the best part of two decades.
“We have been using Phillip James Lettings since 2008 to help us with 2 flats we rent out. Prior to that we used a couple of the bigger names out there but I'm so glad we made the change — and stuck to it!”
Claire Bradford — via Google Reviews
Still owned and run from Worthing by the same family — not a regional chain or a branch reporting into head office.
Meetings by appointment. Most of our time is spent on landlords' properties, not sitting behind a high-street desk.
We don't put To Let boards outside the homes we let. The neighbours don't need the bulletin, and the road looks better without it.
Most new landlords come through recommendation, and many have stayed with us for well over a decade.
We value using what's actually letting nearby — not the figure most likely to win instructions.
Maintenance handled by contractors we've worked with for years — not anonymous national callout networks.
Property Ombudsman, Client Money Protection, ICO registration, HMRC anti-money-laundering supervision, and UKALA membership.
Quietly handled, exactly as it should be.
We assess the property properly, look at real local comparables, and give you a realistic rental range — not an inflated figure to win instructions.
Professional photography, major portals, accompanied viewings, and careful conversations with applicants before we recommend anybody.
Full referencing, contracts, deposit registration, compliance checks, and inventory preparation — quietly handled in the background.
Keys handed over, tenancy underway, and ongoing management handled by the same small team you already know.
Letting property can feel unnecessarily complicated. We try to keep things clear, practical, and straightforward — whether you're letting your first flat or managing a long-term portfolio.
If your question isn't here, we know these streets and the market by heart. Ask us anything.
Ask usRental values depend on location, condition, size, presentation, EPC rating, and current demand.
We provide free rental valuations based on comparable lets in your exact postcode sector — including likely rental range, typical tenant demand, and how long similar properties are currently taking to let in Worthing and Brighton.
Our fees depend on the level of management you choose.
We offer Let Only, Fully Managed, and Rent Guarantee services with transparent pricing and no hidden charges. You can compare our current fees in full on the fees page.
Most properties we market in Worthing and Brighton let within two to three weeks, although timing depends on pricing, presentation, location, and seasonal demand.
Well-presented properties priced realistically usually attract serious viewings quickly.
Yes — if the property has gas appliances, you must hold a valid Gas Safety Certificate, renewed every year.
Almost every let also needs an EPC, an EICR for electrical safety, and smoke alarms on every storey. A carbon monoxide alarm is required in any room with a fixed combustion appliance. For managed landlords, we track all of these and organise renewals before they fall due.
Yes. You need a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before marketing a property to let, and it must be at least band E. An EPC is valid for ten years.
The minimum rating is expected to rise to band C for rented homes later this decade, so it's worth factoring any improvements into your plans. For managed landlords, we track EPC expiry alongside your other compliance dates and arrange what's needed in good time.
Every tenant is personally met by us before being recommended to a landlord.
We carry out full referencing including identity verification, income checks, credit checks, affordability assessment, and previous landlord references.
Switching is usually much simpler than landlords expect.
Most agency agreements include a notice period. We can review your current agreement, explain the process clearly, and help coordinate the handover from your existing agent.
Our Rent Guarantee service continues paying monthly rent if a tenant falls into arrears, subject to the policy terms.
Without Rent Guarantee, we still manage arrears procedures on your behalf and guide landlords through the process step by step.
That depends on how involved you want to be once the tenancy begins.
Some landlords prefer to manage maintenance and tenant communication themselves. Others prefer us to handle the day-to-day running of the tenancy, compliance tracking, inspections, and rent collection.
Ready when you are
We’ll be honest about whether we’re the right fit for your property.
