Not far into ch.1, we are told how Mr. Bingley decided to rent Netherfield Park:

"[Bingley] came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately".

I always thought Mr. Morris was the equivalent of a real estate agent, not the actual owner of Netherfield Park, but in ch.4 we learn that after looking around for only half an hour, Bingley was "satisfied with what the owner said in its praise" and signed the lease. (Likely the rules and regulations were less complicated in those days, and an owner could take care of the transaction himself, or perhaps Mr. Morris had some business/legal training?)