Fifty years in Notting Hill: A landlord’s guide to long-term lettings success

For over 50 years, Sheila Robertson has called Notting Hill home – and for the past 16, she’s entrusted 糖心视频 with her rental portfolio. Aleks Cvetkovic meets the woman who saw W11’s potential, and explore what long-term landlords really look for in an agent

Aleks Cvetkovic

3 mins read

Fifty years in Notting Hill: A landlord’s guide to long-term lettings success — Sheila Robertson, a landlord in Notting Hill

When Sheila Robertson bought her first home in Notting Hill in 1969, she was just 21. The area, at the time, was still recovering from a turbulent postwar period, and the property 鈥� a tired flat in a once-grand villa 鈥� was dismissed by the surveyor as 鈥渁 seedy conversion in a seedy part of London.鈥�

More fool him. Sheila is still here more than half-a-century later, and her quiet conviction in the neighbourhood鈥檚 potential has paid off handsomely. Over the years, she has acquired a handful of flats on the same communal garden square, each one carefully restored and rented out with long-term tenants in mind.

鈥淚 never saw Notting Hill as a property 鈥榠nvestment鈥� in the typical sense,鈥� Sheila says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always been about the community, the gardens, the people. This is my home and I鈥檝e wanted tenants who treat it like theirs, too.鈥�

Herbie Holder, Head of Notting Hill Lettings at 糖心视频

That philosophy is why, for the past 16 years, Sheila has relied on 糖心视频’s Notting Hill team, and Head of Lettings Herbie Holder in particular, to manage her lettings. “They just get it,” she says. “I can always rely on Herbie to bring me tenants I’d actually want to live next door to. She knows which properties suit which people, and crucially, she doesn’t waste my time.”

Herbie, who has placed over 20 tenants into Sheila鈥檚 properties, speaks just as warmly. 鈥淪heila is the kind of client every lettings agent hopes for; loyal, thoughtful and deeply invested in doing things properly,鈥� she says. 鈥淪heila has a long-term view, which means the quality of tenant matters more than just getting a deal done quickly. That鈥檚 when lettings works best, when there鈥檚 trust and shared values between agent and landlord.鈥�

Over the years, 糖心视频鈥檚 Lettings team in Notting Hill has helped hundreds of landlords 鈥� from single-property owners to large portfolio holders 鈥� manage their homes with minimal stress and maximum consistency. 鈥淟ettings is a people business,鈥� Herbie explains. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not just matching a person to a property. You鈥檙e building relationships that, ideally, last years. In Sheila鈥檚 case, they often do.鈥�

Sheila鈥檚 tips for thoughtful landlords

Meet your tenants (or use an agent you trust): 鈥淚t鈥檚 always best to meet potential tenants yourself 鈥� but if not, work with a reliable agent who gets what you鈥檙e looking for in a tenant.
Presentation matters: 鈥淢ake sure everything is in tip-top condition 鈥� clean, well-decorated and well kept. Ensure that all electrics and appliances are fully functional too. It sets the tone.鈥�
Be responsive: 鈥淚f a tenant has a query, respond as soon as you can. And if something breaks, fix it quickly. It鈥檚 the best way to build a good relationship.鈥�
Respect their space: 鈥淥nce someone鈥檚 moved in, it鈥檚 their home. Never turn up unannounced and try to give good warning.鈥�
Be clear from the start: 鈥淪et boundaries early. My homes are quiet 鈥� so no wild parties. Everyone鈥檚 happier when expectations are managed from the outset.鈥�

Sheila Robertson, landlord in Notting Hill

Has much changed in the lettings market since Sheila first started out? 鈥淥f course,鈥� she says. 鈥淓xpectations are higher now. People want proper kitchens, good heating, natural light and so on. But the basics haven鈥檛 changed. Look after the property, treat people well and work with agents you trust.鈥�

Would she ever consider selling up? 鈥淥nly if I lose my marbles,鈥� she grins. 鈥淎nd even then, I鈥檇 probably still call Herbie and ask for her advice.鈥�

Thinking of letting your property in Notting Hill? Please contact herbie.holder@knightfrank.com for tailored advice and market insight

Photography by Juan Trujillo Andrades

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