Built for your profession
For independent UK letting agents (2026)
You do not need a £700-per-month SmartSearch contract to be MLR-2017 compliant. The May 2025 sanctions rule applies the same way to a 5-let independent and a 500-let franchise. The difference is volume of checks, not the obligation per check.
Certaby handles each let end to end, pay as you go: a let with a tenant and a landlord is £3.27, or £4.07 with PEP and adverse media. No contract, no monthly spend, no setup fee. Open a Letting transaction, run the checks, download the signed certificate, and keep the same records MLROs at large firms keep (the certificate is the same whatever you pay). Add the Compliance plan when you want the written policies and inspection bundle too.
Ready to run a check?
Start free with a no-card demo, then create your account to run real checks. Same audit-cert PDF format used by larger firms. No contract, no setup fee. Pay per check.
Frequently asked questions
Can an independent letting agent really stay MLR-2017 compliant for under £100 per month?
For a 5-let-per-month independent (typical for an independent on the high street), 5 lets at £4.07 each, with PEP and adverse media, is £20.35 a month. Plus a single annual firm risk-assessment review (free template at certaby.com/knowledge). Plus the basic MLRO sign-off (your own time). Total: comfortably under £30 a month for a small portfolio. The SmartSearch enterprise tier is structured for firms running 200+ checks per month.
Do I need an MLRO if I am a sole trader or a 2-person firm?
Under MLR-2017 reg 21, every UK letting agent regulated under the regulations must appoint a nominated officer (MLRO). For a sole trader this can be you yourself; for a 2-person firm, one of the principals. The MLRO does not need to be a separate hire. What matters is documented appointment plus annual training; both are free templates at certaby.com/knowledge.
What if I only let 1-2 properties per year, do I still need to screen?
For sanctions, yes. The OFSI reporting duty applies to every let, whatever the rent and however few lets you do. The money-laundering rules apply to lets of £10,000 a month or more, again with no volume exemption. One let a year carries the same duty per let as 500.
How quickly can I run my first check?
Sign up with your email, top up your credit (the smallest pack is £5), add the tenant, the landlord and the property, and run the checks in under a minute. The signed certificate and its verify link are ready straight away. No onboarding call, no compliance training session, no contract negotiation.
Is the certificate the same format that MLROs at enterprise firms see?
Yes. Every certificate has the same format whatever you pay: the parties, the results, the sanctions list versions, a hash and a public verify link. A reviewing MLRO cannot tell from it whether you paid £3.27 for a let or have an enterprise contract; the regulator-relevant content is identical.
Looking for something different? Check the suite catalogue, single-check tools, or the free suite demo.