Why Letting Agent Business Owners Need Philosophy?

From Ayn Rand to Jeremy Griffith: The Moral Compass of Property Management

Part I: Ayn Rand’s View — Philosophy Is Not Optional

Ayn Rand, the fierce champion of reason and individualism, once wrote: “As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you define your philosophy consciously, rationally, and in concert with reality—or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of notions thrown together by chance, default, or whim.”

Letting agency owners are no exception. Whether you’re setting your fee structure, managing a difficult landlord, or resolving tenant disputes, you are applying philosophical principles—whether you know it or not. The question is: are they principles rooted in reality and reason, or are they reactionary instincts inherited from a broken system?

Rand would argue that the letting agent who navigates the marketplace without a clear philosophical foundation is like a captain steering through fog without a compass—liable to crash or drift aimlessly at the mercy of market forces. She believed in the morality of capitalism, the sacredness of contracts, and that value-for-value trade was the only ethical form of human interaction.

From Rand’s perspective, the rational letting agent is proud of their role. They help landlords secure fair returns for their assets and help tenants find a decent home. This is a productive, value-driven act that supports human flourishing.

Remember – there’s always an agent that will do it cheaper!

Part II: The Collaborative Species – Jeremy Griffith and the Human Condition

Biologist and author Jeremy Griffith, in his work on the human condition, posits a powerful idea: humans are fundamentally a cooperative species. He argues that beneath our current cultural and psychological dysfunction lies a deeply ingrained instinct for collaboration, not competition.

We became confused—caught between our natural instincts to care and a miseducational system that taught us the world was a battlefield. In capitalism—especially in its degenerate, corporatist form—this confusion manifests as the belief that every negotiation is a zero-sum game. If the tenant wins, the landlord loses and vice versa.

This worldview leads to burnout, adversarial relationships, and an epidemic of moral exhaustion across the housing sector. Letting a property should be the ultimate “win-win.” The tenant gains a home. The landlord gains income. Importantly - the agent facilitates the value exchange.

But when agents view their job as “winning business” at any cost or when landlords view tenants as inherently untrustworthy, the relationship collapses. It becomes transactional in the worst way.

Part III: Philosophy in Practice – When the Rent Isn’t Paid

The challenge is not merely economic—it is philosophical. What happens when the perfect “win-win” scenario breaks down? A tenant stops paying rent. The landlord is losing money. The agent is caught in the middle.

This is why we’ve developed part of our Mental Health Series for letting agents: to manage these breakdowns calmly, clearly, and ethically.

Setting Expectations for Landlords

A common root of distress is overpromising. Agents make unrealistic guarantees like “Don’t worry, we’ll collect the rent.” In truth, agents can only demand rent; they cannot enforce legal action. Only landlords or solicitors have that right.

Clarity over comfort.

Don’t promise ease—promise professionalism.

Templates for This Crisis Moment

When rent arrears reach the section 8/RHW20 level send to the tenant:

Tenant Rent Snapshot Email

Dear Contract Holder/tenant,

Now that we have passed into 2025 and our management of your Contract continues, we thought it’s a good time to send you a short financial snapshot of your tenancy.

Currently you are £[X] in arrears.

It’s not a process of ours to negotiate a payment plan with contract holders for any arrears - alternatively we encourage you to make overpayments above your normal rent payments and the extra amount will be deducted from your arrears.

NB: Your home is at risk if rent payments are not maintained. Landlords may take court action for arrears currently outstanding.

Regards,[Letting Agency Name]

At the same time send the below to the landlord:

Landlord Rent Snapshot Email

Dear Landlord,

This year there is a lot going on in lettings, so it’s a good time to take stock of the financial situation with your rental.

Current rent arrears: £[X]  Ongoing rent: [being paid / part paid / unpaid]

You have 3 choices:  1. Do nothing – not recommended.  2. Pursue small claims court action – possible.  3. Serve notice, seek possession and arrears via court – common path.

Only landlords or their solicitors can pursue court action. We will support by providing documentation and evidence and of course continue general management while the legal process continues.

Best regards,  [Letting Agency Name]

Conclusion: Philosophy as a Business Tool

To run a letting agency in the 2020s is to navigate economic uncertainty, emotional volatility, legal complexity—and human suffering. You can’t solve this with software. You solve it with philosophy.

From Rand, take moral clarity: value for value, reason over emotion, contracts as sacred.

From Griffith, take empathy and collaboration: humans are not meant to be at war with each other.

Strive for principled cooperation.