Owning rental property can be profitable, but managing it yourself isn't always the best choice. Here's when hiring a property management company makes sense.

6 Signs You Need Professional Property Management

1. Your Property is Far Away

If you don't live near your rental property, you need someone local who can:Handle emergencies quicklyCheck on the property regularlyKnow reliable contractors in the areaMeet with tenants face-to-face when needed

2. You Don't Want the Hassle

Managing rental property involves lots of tasks:Collecting rent every monthFinding and screening tenantsHandling maintenance and repairsDealing with tenant complaintsFollowing landlord lawsIf this sounds overwhelming, hire a professional.

3. You Want to Stay Out of Tenant Drama

Many landlords prefer to avoid direct contact with tenants. A property manager handles:Difficult conversations about late rentComplaints and disputesMove-in and move-out inspectionsEvictions if necessary

4. You're Too Busy

If you have a full-time job or other commitments, property management takes time you might not have. Professional managers work while you focus on other things.

5. You Can Afford the Cost

Property management typically costs 8-12% of your monthly rent. Many owners find this worthwhile because:It saves time and stressProfessionals often get higher rentsProperties stay rented longerYou avoid costly mistakes

6. You Own Multiple Properties

The more rental properties you own, the more sense professional management makes. It's much easier to have one company handle everything than juggle multiple tenants yourself.

What Good Property Managers Do

A quality property management company will:

Find and screen good tenantsCollect rent and handle late paymentsCoordinate all maintenance and repairsConduct regular property inspectionsHandle legal issues and evictionsProvide monthly financial reports

How to Choose the Right Company

Look for a property manager who:Knows your local rental marketHas good reviews from other landlordsOffers clear, fair pricingUses modern technology for communicationHas proper licenses and insurance offering

The Bottom Line

Hire a property management company if you value your time, want less stress, or lack experience with rental properties. While it costs money, good management often pays for itself through higher rents, fewer vacancies, and avoiding expensive mistakes.

Ready to learn more?
Contact Summit today for a free consultation to see if professional property management is right for your rental property.

Is your Property Manager giving you the full picture?

At Summit Property Management, we know trust is earned through clarity. That’s why we’ve rolled out industry leading video inspections — giving landlords a front-row seat to your property's condition, from wherever you are.

No guesswork. No blurred lines. Just real-time walkthroughs, expert commentary, and peace of mind delivered straight to your screen.

"Thank you for the very detailed and accurate video inspection. This is an excellent record of the interior and exterior condition of 13 Milton Terrace. I believe this method of reporting on rental properties to be first class. Cheers"
— Henri, Investment Property Owner Picton

"I’ve found the video inspection tours to be invaluable — they provide a comprehensive view of how well our house and section are being maintained”
— David, Richmond Landlord

For a clear view on your investment, Contact a local Property Manager

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill has passed its third reading last Thursday, delivering on the Government’s “commitment to deliver sensible changes to tenancy laws”, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says in his announcement.

Here at Summit Property Management, we see these changes as positive and will help in getting more stock into the rental housing market plus clarify several of the rules rental property owners operate under, below is a summary of the changes.

 

Changes to take effect from - 30th January 2025

Tenancy termination changes, including: 

reintroducing ‘no cause’ terminations, meaning a landlord can end a periodic tenancy with 90 days’ notice without requiring a specific reasonreducing landlords’ notice periods for ending a periodic tenancy to 42 days in specific circumstancesreducing tenants’ notice periods for ending a periodic tenancy from 28 to 21 daysreintroducing landlords’ ability to give notice to end a fixed-term tenancy at the end of its term without requiring a specific reason

 

Changes to take effect from – 20th March 2025

Changes to improve clarity and efficiency, including:

clarifying that landlords can prohibit smoking inside the main rental premisesclarifying provisions for withdrawing from a tenancy due to family violence

 

Changes to take effect from – Date TBC – expected late 2025 (commencement is by Order in Council, enabling a date to be set later)

Pet-related changes, including:

the ability to charge a pet bond at a maximum equivalent of two weeks’ rentnew pet consent and damage liability rules

 

Contact a Summit Property Manager HERE

Find out more 

This article is from realestate.co.nz and the original one can be viewed by clicking here.

If you own a rental property, it’s likely you already know about the new healthy homes standards that came into effect on 1 July 2019. Landlords must already maintain their rental properties, but under the new standards, some will need to improve the quality of their property too. While it will ensure better and healthier homes for Kiwis, it can seem a bit overwhelming in the short-term. You might have questions like ‘What does this mean for me and my property?’ or ‘Is owning a rental property still a smart investment?’

The good news is that real estate is still a great asset. If you are willing to invest in keeping it healthy you won’t need to do as much maintenance in the long run. Plus, happy and healthy tenants are more likely to stick around and pay rent on time. Keeping your rental healthy will also remove any last-minute stress if your circumstances change and you were to sell the property.

Get ahead of the game and sort out your property now, by investing in a few key areas. Here are four easy steps to help make sure your investment is healthy and ticks all the boxes.

Find out if your rental is up to scratch

Before you get started, read up on the latest changes in regulation. The standards cover heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draughts – so check what’s required in each area. There are plenty of websites where you can find useful resources and the latest information - Raise the Standard has a handy rental health checklist to get you started.

While it’s easy to do this yourself initially, some of the standards (like insulation) may require some help or professional advice. Assessors and experienced professionals are the experts and will be able to help you create an overview of your property’s health, so you can keep track of what needs to be done.

Remember to book in regular property inspections to keep on top of maintenance issues. If your tenants don’t always let you know when problems arise, spark the conversation. Work together to solve problems as they crop up, as this will ensure your property stays in better condition in the long run.

Prepare to level up your property

Change won’t happen overnight. It’s important to plan and prioritise what needs to be done to keep your property healthy. By outlining this before you start work, you’ll find out what needs to be completed right away and what can be looked at later down the line.

Here are a few planning tips:

Take a systematic approach. Do the most important changes first and work down to the others methodically.
Get strategic. If you need to upgrade your insulation - do that first. It’ll help keep your property warm and you’ll avoid buying a heater that’s bigger than you need.
Block out time each week to focus on your property and investment goals.
Schedule regular maintenance checks into your calendar and give your tenants notice of these.
Plan your finances and ensure you have the funds to complete the upgrades. Updates and regular maintenance should not break the bank if you plan properly.
Speak to an industry professional and make sure you book them in before the inevitable pre-deadline rush.

 

Get in and get it done

Taking action is the most important step. Before you begin any work, make sure you keep your tenants in the loop. You need to give your tenants at least 24 hours’ notice if you’re entering the property or doing work in order to meet the standards. It also helps if tenants know what upgrades you’re doing and why. There’s a great info sheet you can share with them that has simple information on the standards, and how they can help keep your rental healthy.

Some things, like painting, are okay for you to DIY – but for any bigger projects, like installing a new extractor fan, call in the tradies. It will pay off, in the long run, to get the job done well by an experienced professional.

Keep tabs on your investment

Don’t let your hard work go to waste and stay on top of your paperwork. Landlords must keep a record of all upgrades and maintenance. This includes inspection reports, water bills, tenancy agreements, rent receipts and any documentation to prove that you’re complying with the new standards. Proper documentation can make life easy at tax time - and helps if you want to list your property in the future.

Now you know the key areas to work on, you can start ticking all the boxes when it comes to keeping your rental property healthy. It will help you attract and retain great tenants, who are willing to help ensure your property stays in great shape – making life easy for you when it comes time to sell.

For all the information you need to know to level up your rental property and stay ahead of the game, head to Raise the Standard.

As Property Managers, the question we get most apart from ‘how much rent can we get?’ is
‘what checks do you conduct on prospective tenants?’

Here at Summit Property Management, we conduct credit checks, personally call employers to verify employment, call previous landlords and ask a series of questions as to how the tenancy was conducted, and in some cases check the ownership of the property and call character referees with some standing.

The biggest source of information outside the above is a comprehensive, specialist background check, this is often where we discover the important details on some applicants, sources include;

Tenancy Tribunal orders not available to the publicIdentity confirmation and alias detailsDistrict Court judgementsInsolvency dataSensible Sentencing Trust recordsNew Zealand Police recordsGoogle and social media searches

If you are looking for a supply of well-vetted tenants, contact your nearest Summit Property Management office today.

Locate your nearest Branch

Heat pumps are an excellent energy-efficient solution for heating and cooling New Zealand homes, but proper maintenance is crucial for optimal performance and longevity. Whether you're a tenant or landlord, understanding heat pump care responsibilities can save money, prevent costly repairs, and ensure comfortable living conditions year-round.

Why Heat Pump Maintenance MattersRegular heat pump maintenance can reduce energy costs by up to 15%, extend equipment lifespan, and prevent common issues like mould and dampness. For property managers, well-maintained heat pumps also mean fewer emergency repair calls and happier tenants.
Make sure it's cleanCleaning the filter in your heat pump is super important to help your machine run more efficiently. You should ideally clean your heat pump filters once a month, or more frequently if they're particularly dirty.
How to clean your heat pump filtersRemove the internal filters on your heat pump and vacuum them, then place them back. Ensure the external unit is always free from any leaves as they can cause the unit to stop working efficiently.
Know your temperaturesSet your heat pump temperature to 18 degrees or above to help fight damp and mould, but below 21 degrees to save on power. The higher the temperature, the more energy the heat pump will use.
Don't run your heat pump constantlyA lot of people believe that keeping a heat pump running 24/7 is an efficient, cost-effective way to heat their home. But in fact, that idea is actually a myth and you will use more energy. It's much better to just run your heat pump when you're at home. Doing that will also save you money on your electricity bill.
Got a timer? Use itThere's nothing like getting home, or waking up to a nice, warm home in winter. If your heat pump has a timer, you can set it to turn on just before you get home or before you wake up in the morning. Doing this also means you'll be less tempted to crank the heat pump at a high temperature when you get home or wake up to a cold house.
Know who's in charge of whatWhen it comes to the heat pump, landlords are responsible for maintaining it, tenants, you're responsible for keeping it clean. If there are any problems with the heat pump make sure you tell your landlord as soon as possible before organising any maintenance.