Tenant care is a crucial part of managing rental properties. A good property manager is considerate, responsive, and ensures maintenance issues are addressed quickly, creating a safe and healthy rental home. Balance is key. Being overly sympathetic or too close to tenants can blur the line between compassion and business, and this can cost landlords significantly.
The NZ Herald recently highlighted this risk in an article about an Auckland landlord who ended up with $9,000 in unpaid rent and $14,000 in damage after delaying inspections and believing promises of repayment. It’s a reminder that Dunedin landlords face similar risks if they let personal relationships override sound property management.
Below are some common mistakes self-managing landlords make and how a professional property manager can help avoid them.
Letting rent arrears slide
It may feel compassionate to give tenants more time to pay rent, but once arrears extend beyond two weeks, it’s unlikely they can catch up. This leaves landlords financially exposed.
The Residential Tenancies Act allows landlords to serve a 14-day breach notice when rent is overdue. Professional property managers act quickly while also supporting tenants to access financial hardship help. This balances empathy with protecting landlord income.
Hesitancy to increase rent or saying no to tenant requests
Many landlords avoid raising rent or saying “no” to extra tenant requests for fear of creating conflict. This might include unnecessary upgrades, or allowing pets or letting extra occupants move in without amending the tenancy agreement or conducting tenant background screening.
Over time, avoiding fair rent reviews means landlords fall behind market value, losing thousands in potential return. While not amending the tenancy agreement when there is a change to the tenancy can leave owners exposed to higher risk and/or Tribunal disputes.
Skipping regular inspections
Some landlords skip inspections because they feel uncomfortable “checking up” on tenants they get along with or feel like they can trust. But inspections are usually required by landlord insurance and are critical to protecting your investment as delayed inspections can lead to unnoticed maintenance issues or hidden damage that becomes costly over time.
Professional property managers carry out routine inspections every three months, provide detailed photo reports, and ensure small problems are fixed before they turn into expensive repairs. Inspections also demonstrate to tenants that the property is being cared for, which encourages them to respect it too.
Poor tenant screening
When landlords let emotion guide decisions, they can skip proper tenant checks. Without thorough credit, tenancy tribunal, and reference checks, the risk of arrears, property damage, and disputes increases.
Property managers use multi-bureau screening and robust processes to find reliable tenants who respect your property and pay on time.
How South Property Management helps Dunedin landlords
Professional property management is about balance. At South Property, we are approachable and fair but also firm when it comes to protecting your rental home and income. Our services include:
- Daily rent monitoring and robust arrears processes.
- Annual rent reviews aligned with Dunedin market data.
- Thorough tenant screening with credit, references, and tribunal history.
- Regular inspections with photo reports to protect your investment.
- A neutral mediator guided by consistent and fair decision-making.
A better way to manage your rental home
Compassion matters, but not at the cost of financial loss. At South Property Management, we act as the professional buffer between landlords and tenants. We deliver hands-on, local expertise that keeps your property compliant, tenanted, and profitable.
If you are a Dunedin landlord looking for a trusted property manager who can protect your investment while maintaining positive tenant relationships, get in touch today.