Letting Agent in Shirley: How Collaboration with Smart Homes Delivered for a New Landlord

When a property won’t sell, it can feel like a dead end. But for one landlord in Shirley, a referral from local estate agent Smart Homes to Partridge Homes turned that frustration into a let-agreed at £1,050 per month, with a quality tenant secured and the property earning from day one. This is the story behind that let, and a conversation with Paul Partridge about why working closely with other agents, rather than competing with them, is one of the most effective things a letting agent in Shirley can do.

The Property: A Two-Bedroom Apartment in Shirley, Let at £1,050 PCM

The apartment is a second-floor flat finished to a high standard throughout. It offers two generously sized double bedrooms, a bright lounge with direct balcony access, a fitted kitchen with dedicated dining area, and a well-appointed family bathroom with contemporary fixtures. Two allocated parking spaces are included, the property sits in Council Tax Band B, and it carries an EPC rating of C — both of which keep running costs reasonable for tenants.

At £1,050 per month, it sits below the Solihull borough average of £1,259 PCM recorded by the ONS in April 2026, making it a competitively priced option in a market where demand across Shirley’s most popular streets tends to move quickly. For professionals, couples, or small families looking for something move-in ready without paying a premium, this kind of property doesn’t stay available for long.

How the Referral Came About: Smart Homes and Partridge Homes

Smart Homes, established in 1998 by Jamie Smart and based on Stratford Road just east of Shirley train station, is one of Solihull’s most respected sales agents. They focus primarily on sales, new homes, land, and commercial property. When a vendor’s property isn’t selling, their priority is still doing right by that client, and sometimes that means recognising that a different route, specifically lettings, is the better answer.

That’s exactly what happened here. Smart Homes referred this landlord to Partridge Homes, and the result was a let agreed at a rent that works for both landlord and tenant.

We asked Paul Partridge, who leads the lettings division at Partridge Homes, to explain how this kind of collaboration works in practice.

A Conversation with Paul Partridge

How does the referral relationship with Smart Homes actually work?

“It’s straightforward, really. Smart Homes are sales specialists. When they have a client whose property isn’t moving, they don’t want to lose that relationship, and they shouldn’t have to. They refer the landlord to us, we handle the letting professionally, and the client is looked after properly. Everyone benefits, including the landlord, who starts earning rental income rather than sitting on a vacant property with ongoing costs.”

Why do you prefer to work with businesses rather than just market directly to landlords?

“Because it produces better outcomes. A landlord who comes to us through Smart Homes already comes with context. Smart Homes know their clients well, so when they make a referral, they’ve already had the conversation about why letting makes sense. We’re not starting from scratch. The landlord arrives ready to move forward, and we can focus on doing what we do best, which is finding the right tenant quickly and managing the property properly.”

“More broadly, we’ve always believed that the best agents build relationships with other professionals rather than treating them as competition. Smart Homes are excellent at what they do. We’re specialists in lettings and property management. When we work together, the landlord gets both.”

Is this arrangement common in the industry?

“It’s growing. More agents are recognising that referral networks are worth investing in. The key is trust. Smart Homes refer to us because they know we’ll look after their client. If we didn’t deliver, the referral would stop. That accountability is actually good for standards, because you’re not just representing yourself, you’re representing the relationship.”

What would you say to a landlord who’s been trying to sell and is considering letting instead?

“I’d say don’t wait too long. Every month a property sits unsold and empty is a month of lost income. In Shirley, well-presented two-bedroom apartments at the right price let quickly. This one was no exception. And letting doesn’t close the door on selling in the future. It keeps your options open while the property is working for you.”

Why Shirley Works Well for Landlords

Shirley sits in the southern part of Birmingham, on the Solihull border, and draws consistent tenant demand from professionals working across the wider West Midlands, including those commuting into Birmingham city centre and the business parks around Solihull. Areas including Haslucks Green Road, Streetsbrook Road, Cranmore, and the Shirley and Hall Green borders see strong interest from renters, and well-presented flats with parking tend to let faster than the Solihull average.

Typical rental yields in the B90 postcode run between 4.5% and 6.5%, depending on property type and condition. For a landlord who bought at a time when the sales market has softened, letting at £1,050 PCM on a property like this one can represent a solid holding strategy while they wait for conditions to improve.

Partridge Homes was named Best Letting Agents in Shirley and Solihull B90 to B91 at the 2026 British Property Awards, an independently judged process that includes mystery shopping, communication testing, and customer journey assessment. That recognition matters to landlords in Shirley because it reflects the standard of service they can expect, not just a trophy on the shelf.

Working with Other Professionals: The Partridge Homes Approach

The Smart Homes collaboration is one example of a broader principle. Partridge Homes actively builds relationships with solicitors, financial advisers, mortgage brokers, and other estate agents across Birmingham and Solihull. The logic is simple: a landlord who is well-served by every professional in their network is more likely to stay with all of them.

For estate agents considering a similar arrangement, the practical details matter. Any referral relationship should be set out in writing, covering the scope of the introduction, any fee arrangement, data protection obligations, and which party holds AML responsibility. Done properly, it protects both businesses and the client.

If you’re an estate agent in Shirley or the wider Solihull area and you have vendors who might benefit from a conversation about letting, Partridge Homes is open to those conversations. The Smart Homes partnership is a model that works, and one that can be replicated where the right trust exists.

Let Agreed: What This Means for Landlords Watching from the Sidelines

For landlords in Shirley who are sitting on a property that hasn’t sold, or who are weighing up whether to let for the first time, this let is a practical demonstration of what’s possible. A well-presented two-bedroom apartment, referred through a trusted sales agent, let at a competitive rent, with a quality tenant in place.

If you’d like to read more about letting a property in Shirley, our Shirley rental valuation guide covers what to expect from the local market and how to prepare your property for let. And if you’re thinking about the broader Solihull picture, our Solihull landlord’s guide is a useful starting point.

If you own a property in Shirley or Solihull that you’ve been struggling to sell, or if you’re simply curious about what it might achieve as a rental, the team at Partridge Homes can give you a clear, honest assessment. You can reach Paul and the lettings team through our contact page, and we’ll take it from there.

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