Natasha Chilcott

I grew up in rental accommodation with my mum. Despite her having a very good job in property law, renting as a single mother was often looked down upon and carried a stigma at the time. I witnessed first hand the struggles of renting, from judgmental attitudes of neighbours to the instability of the system. The hardest moment for us was making the decision to re home our beloved dog, because the only properties available to us at the time did not allow pets– an experience that has stayed with me ever since.

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Aged 19, I became a digital marketing apprentice and began working for my dad, a portfolio landlord, managing all 19 of his properties, plus a further 18 owned by other landlords. Overnight I found myself juggling everything a lettings manager would handle. At the same time, as a tenant myself, I was living both sides of the rental experience. This gave me unique insight into the gaps, double standards, and unfair situations faced by tenants, landlords, and agents. It left me asking: how can I bring balance and fairness to this industry?

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I knew I had found my calling and I later joined the corporate private rental sector, where I gained a deep understanding of legislation, compliance, and industry practice. One thing that stood out to me was the role of inventory providers. Their work sets the tone for the entire tenancy lifecycle: inventories establish a fair starting point, interim inspections require sensitivity and professionalism, and check-outs can determine whether the end of a tenancy is smooth or stressful. A high quality inventory provider could dramatically improve the rental experience, yet I often saw this area treated as an afterthought.

 

I recognised that this was where I could make a real difference. 

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With the support of my partner, Liam, I took the leap and launched our business in April 2024. We named it after my mum; her surname is Letts, which also felt like a fitting play on words!

 

I trained with InventoryBase and TDS and became ARLA PropertyMark accredited. I also trained with the NSPCC, as safeguarding is part of our duty of care to our clients and those we work with.

 

All of my experiences have shaped the way I work today. They are the reason fairness, clarity, and professionalism sit at the heart of everything we do at Letts Inventories. I believe that when properties are documented properly and impartially, everyone involved is treated more fairly. Tenants feel heard, landlords are protected, and agents are supported.

 

Letts Inventories was built to bring balance to the rental process, raise standards, and ensure that no part of a tenancy is treated as an afterthought. It’s a responsibility I take seriously, and one I’m proud to carry forward every day.