Self-managing is often described as going it alone. It isn't, or shouldn't be. The landlords who manage their own properties well have a small team around them; they just don't employ any of it. An accountant, a boiler engineer on a contract, a solicitor they can call, a few people who know the sector better than they do.

Here's who belongs on that team, and what separates a good choice from a merely adequate one.

An accountant who does property

Rental income tax has its own rules: the finance cost restriction, capital versus revenue repairs, the question of whether to incorporate. Making Tax Digital now means quarterly reporting for many landlords. A general practice accountant will keep you compliant; a property specialist will keep you compliant and find the reliefs. Our guide to choosing an accountant for landlords covers what to ask before you sign up.

Boiler cover with a real response time

A tenant without heating in January is an emergency, and under the incoming repair standards it's a legal one. The question isn't whether to have boiler cover but what the policy actually promises: same-day attendance or "we'll aim to", parts included or not, annual service included or extra. We compared eight landlord boiler cover plans on those terms.

Someone to handle the void

Between tenants, the utility accounts revert to you, and each supplier will set up a deemed contract at a rate you wouldn't choose. Void management services take that off your hands: they notify the suppliers, manage the accounts and, in some cases, negotiate the tariff. For a landlord with more than a couple of properties the time saving alone justifies it. There's a review of void period utility services covering how they charge.

Early warning on damp and mould

Awaab's Law brings defined timescales for dealing with damp and mould into the private rented sector. The problem is that landlords usually hear about it late, once it's visible. Humidity sensors in the property tell you before the tenant does, and give you a dated record of conditions if a dispute arises. We've compared damp and mould sensors built for rental property.

A solicitor before you need one

Possession under the Renters' Rights Act is ground-based, evidence-heavy and unforgiving of procedural errors. The time to find a landlord solicitor or eviction specialist is when everything is fine, not when rent is three months in arrears. Our comparison of landlord legal and eviction services looks at fixed-fee options as well as full-service firms.

People who know more than you

Legislation is changing faster than most landlords can track. A good forum, a couple of podcasts and one or two newsletters will surface changes months before they reach the general press. We've listed the forums, podcasts and newsletters we'd actually recommend.

None of these people work for you. All of them make self-managing possible.