How To Find Good Commercial Tenants For £150

How to Find the Right Commercial Tenants: A Step-by-Step Process

The process of finding tenants for a commercial property is very similar to finding tenants for a standard buy-to-let (BTL). It’s generally a little more expensive, but it typically follows the same core steps:

1. Market the property
2. Handle and qualify enquiries
3. Schedule and conduct viewings
4. Select the most suitable applicant
5. Sign contracts

Sound familiar? Good!

Traditionally, most commercial landlords rely on high-street letting agents to source tenants. While this approach can be effective, it often comes at a significant cost, sometimes thousands of pounds in fees for what is, at its core, a fairly standard marketing and enquiry-handling process.

However, in today’s digital age, there is a more cost-effective alternative that is arguably just as effective: hello online letting agents. You may or may not have heard of them, and even if you have, you might not realise that many now cater to commercial landlords, not just residential BTL properties (which how it started off).

Residential landlords were quick to adopt online letting agents, largely because higher tenant turnover forced them to become more proactive and cost-conscious. Commercial landlords, on the other hand, tend to experience longer tenancies, which can slow the adoption of newer, more efficient approaches.

That said, it’s important for commercial landlords to understand that online commercial letting agents can advertise your property on major portals such as Rightmove & Zoopla Commercial, often at a fraction of the cost charged by traditional high-street agents, while still generating strong enquiry levels.

In short, if your primary goal is exposure, enquiries, and securing the right tenant (rather than paying premium fees for a shopfront), an online commercial letting agent can be a smart, modern alternative.

How to Advertise Commercial Property on Rightmove & Zoopla

Online Commercial Letting Agents

Letting Agent	Rating	Term	Includes / Notes	Price from
Quicklister	Rating 4.7 Google Reviews	Duration 6 weeks	Includes / Notes Commercial package Key features Zoopla listing PrimeLocation listing Optional add-ons available £179 Photograghs & Floorplan bundle £119 Virtual Tour	Price Discount price £116.1 Inc VAT (Normal price: £129)	Visit Website10% Discount Code: zSGHbtpG
99Home	Rating 4.8 TrustPilot Reviews	Duration 3 months	Includes / Notes Commercial Let package Key features Zoopla listing OnTheMarket listing PrimeLocation listing Optional add-ons available £180 Photograghs & Floorplan bundle £180 Virtual Tour £100 Tenant referencing (1 x applicant) £99 License Drafting & Digital Signing £149 Rightmove listing (per month)	Price Discount price £141.55 Inc VAT (Normal price: £149)	Visit Website5% Discount Code: COMMERCIALPIP

This is genuine feedback I recently received from someone after they used 99Home’s Commercial Let package…

Just wanted to let you know that I managed to find a commercial tenant (and secure a deposit from them) within a few weeks using 99home. It cost £149 + £149 for Rightmove [listing]. Rightmove quoted me over £300 per month.

Since the removal of fees from tenants, traditional estate agents have become too expensive! Thanks to you, I have been marketing myself for a while, but this was the first commercial unit I had to find tenants for. And I have probably saved £3,000 – £4,000 in fees.

– Commercial Landlord

Make of that what you will. I’m just the messenger.

What Is a Commercial Online Agent? How They Compare to High-Street Agents

Don’t be misguided… Online agents have the same aims and objectives as any other traditional high-street agent, and that is to find tenants as quickly as possible.

However, they do have a few primary differences, and I’ve listed the main notable one’s below…

Online Commercial Lettings Agents don’t have local branches/offices

Unlike traditional high-street letting agents, online agents do not operate physical branches on the high street. Instead, they typically run from one or more centralised offices where all operations are managed, with telephone and digital communication forming the bulk of their customer support.

Their services – from marketing and enquiries to onboarding and payment – are delivered entirely online through their website. This streamlined setup significantly reduces overheads such as rent, staffing, and utilities (which is how they’re able to offer significantly lower rates).

Makes sense, innit?

Enquiries

Online agents typically pass all enquiries received for your property directly to you, allowing you to handle the next steps, such as contacting prospective tenants and arranging viewings, yourself.

In contrast, high-street agents usually retain full control of enquiries and manage the entire process internally on your behalf.

Viewings

When using an online agent, the landlord is typically expected to conduct the viewings themselves. In contrast, with a high-street agent, a local representative usually handles viewings on your behalf, and you rely on their feedback.

Personally, I always prefer to meet prospective tenants in person, and many landlords feel the same. There’s a lot to be said for face-to-face meetings during viewings, it allows you to get a clearer sense of who your tenants are and what they’re like.

If you’re comfortable taking the viewings yourself (as most commercial landlords are) and want to save a substantial amount of money in the process, using an online letting agent to source commercial tenants can be an excellent, cost-effective solution.

No Hidden Fees: Just One Upfront Fixed Cost

High-street agents are often notorious for hidden fees, quietly built into the contract, and they usually only become apparent after it’s too late.

In my experience, almost all online agents operate on a fixed-fee basis. Your property stays advertised for a single, upfront payment, with no extra commission, administration charges, or surprise add-ons. In fact, virtually all online agents stick to this model – it’s a key part of their offering and a major way they differentiate themselves from the high-street approach.

Why Listing on Rightmove & Zoopla Commercial Is Essential for Landlords

I’ve often stressed how important it is for landlords – residential or commercial – to market their vacant property on Rightmove and Zoopla (especially Rightmove) to maximise their chances of finding tenants quickly. Regardless of whether you use a high-street agent or an online agent, I would not recommend going without an agent that utilises these platforms. That would be mental.

Rightmove is by far the most popular UK property portal, with Zoopla coming in second. They attract more prospective tenants than any other portal, meaning your property gets the maximum possible exposure.

“Rightmove Commercial” alone receives over 2 million searches per month and lists over 40,000 commercial properties, covering offices, retail, leisure, hospitality, industrial, and warehouse spaces. That’s a gigantic marketing reach, especially when combined with Zoopla!

The reality is, most high-street agents generate the vast majority of their leads from Rightmove and Zoopla, rather than from local marketing efforts. Leveraging these portals effectively is therefore essential to finding tenants quickly and efficiently. Ignore at your peril.

Online Letting Agents Explained: How They Work & When to Use Them

I’ve written more of an in depth blog post on online letting agents, which provides further information on the general concept of an online agent, and how they operate and differ from high-street lettings agents. However, that article is specifically for BTL landlords, but the general principles apply in most cases.

Landlord out xo