I've rented my fair share of flats, and just recently I've rented a new place through OpenRent. OpenRent sorted the deposit and method of communication and operated as a kind of escrow for the holding deposit.

Apart from that, I dealt directly with the landlord. From viewing the flat to paying the full deposit (plus first month's rent), it took three days. This is substantially faster than if an agency was involved, mostly, I think, because the landlord was able to answer all the questions we had directly.

In the past, all I've had are letting agents wasting my time, either because they decide to show me shitty places that absolutely do not suit me, or by pretending they know the answer to a question they clearly know nothing about.

It was even worse when they were allowed to charge fees.

So, please, educate me! Do letting agents serve any actual purpose?