How to switch property management companies

First, establish the terms of the change

Find the current management agreement and any later written changes. Check the sections dealing with the service ending, notice, fees, existing reservations and the return or use of property materials. If the wording is unclear or disputed, obtain advice before taking action on an assumed exit right.

Prepare a proposed timetable after you understand those requirements. Ask the incoming manager what they need to assess the property and organise onboarding. Keep the intended start date provisional until the relevant responsibilities and arrangements have been confirmed.

Make a handover list for existing bookings

Record each upcoming stay and identify who will handle guest messages, arrival, cleaning, maintenance issues and payment reconciliation. Include stays that cross the proposed handover date. An operational change should not leave guests receiving conflicting instructions.

Do not assume a change of manager automatically transfers a reservation or requires cancellation. Check the booking platform's process and the relevant agreements before changing reservations or publishing replacement availability.

• Arrival and departure dates, including stays spanning the change.
• The team responsible for each guest-facing task.
• Cleaning appointments and outstanding property issues.
• Payments received, amounts still due and unresolved adjustments.
• The person authorised to approve any booking changes.

Who controls the listings and accounts?

Establish whose account holds each listing and who has access. Keep a record of public listing links and the materials you are entitled to use. Ask the platform what is possible before assuming that a listing, reviews or account history will transfer to someone else.

Airbnb allows co-host permissions to be changed or a co-host to be removed. Its guidance says that if the departing co-host is the primary host, another eligible host must be selected. Coordinate access changes with the agreed handover; platform settings do not replace the management agreement.

What property information needs to be handed over?

Prepare the inventory, condition photographs, appliance information, maintenance history and relevant property documents. Record outstanding issues and which party will address each one. Confirm who coordinates suppliers and who has authority to approve further costs.

Arrange physical access through the agreed secure process. Keep passwords, entry codes and guest personal information out of ordinary enquiry emails. Give the incoming team only the information and permissions needed for the work they are authorised to perform.

Reconcile the money and check the first stay

Request a breakdown of receipts, fees, authorised expenditure and unresolved adjustments for the handover period. Match it to the booking records and available invoices. Record any outstanding question without treating it as settled merely because the operating date has changed.

Before the first arrival under the new arrangements, confirm that the responsible team can see the correct calendar, access the property, arrange the turnover and receive guest messages. Check that the listing information and availability reflect the agreed plan.

Discussing a move to NourNest

Send the property's London area, type, bedroom count, any public listing link and the support you want. Explain that it is currently managed and describe your proposed timing. NourNest can discuss suitability and the scope before onboarding; the existing agreement and booking arrangements still need to be addressed.