Building a rent roll is one thing… building a premium, sought after rent roll is another.

Elements of a premium rent roll

While profits are important, creating an outstanding rent roll is more than a numbers game.

How landlords can renovate for better returns.   Many Australians see property investment as an express ticket to wealth and financial security, without taking into account the expenses they must incur along the way.   As a property manager, it can be frustrating to be asked to find a tenant who will pay a premium, only to realise a home or apartment is in dire need of work. If you find yourself in this situation, it may be time for a talk with the the landlord about how to optimise the property.   

“Of droughts and flooding rains…” our sunburned country has its fair share of extreme weather. Cyclones in the far north have decimated entire towns while those ‘flooding rains’ have a habit of making their way around the country. Damage to rental properties from events like storms, bushfires and high winds is all too commonplace. From your perspective as the managing agent, this can spell a major headache. It makes sense to be across the facts for when this type of issue occurs.   Rules around property damage Specific tenancy laws do differ from state to state. 

Your rent roll is only worth as much as the worst property you manage.   There is a saying in business - it is 20 percent of your clients who take up 80 percent of your time.   This also applies when you are managing a rent roll. No matter how many properties you have on your books, there are always a few which are wasting your time and money.   The problems can be with the property themselves - constant leaks, faulty plumbing or poor structural foundations can turn a home into a money pit for both owner and agent.

In Australia, the standard rental agreement is for 12 months. Once this expires, most agencies and tenants continue on a month to month basis for so long as everyone is happy.   This arrangement, however, works in a tenant’s favour as they can move out with only four week’s notice.   As an agent managing a large rent roll, having a large proportion of tenants whose leases have expired is actually a destabilising factor due to the unpredictability of tenants.   The benefits of a long term lease