Property Manager Kaiwhakahaere Papa Whenua

Property managers look after the daily running of residential or commercial properties.

Property managers can register with the Property Institute or the Property Managers Institute of New Zealand (PROMINZ). 

Property managers may do some or all of the following:

  • advertise and show rental homes or commercial properties
  • negotiate leases and tenancy agreements
  • collect rents and bonds
  • investigate and resolve any tenant complaints
  • organise property repairs
  • review property maintenance, security and tenancy contracts
  • keep up to date with the real estate market 
  • help plan property investments
  • write financial reports
  • advise building owners on tenancy law and the real estate market.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for property managers includes work in:

  • real estate
  • property investment
  • customer service
  • finance and administration.

Commercial property managers may also find it useful to have experience in areas such as law, construction, quantity surveying, valuation, accounting or finance.

Personal Qualities

Property managers need to be:

  • honest and reliable
  • excellent communicators, with good listening and writing skills
  • proactive and adaptable
  • good negotiators and mediators
  • organised
  • able to make good judgements.

Skills

Property managers need to have knowledge of:

  • property inspection and valuation
  • building methods and materials, and architectural and engineering plans
  • property laws and local regulations
  • the real estate market.

Trade skills, such as plumbing or carpentry, may also be useful.

Conditions

Property managers:

  • usually work regular business hours, but may work evenings and weekends, and be on call
  • are based in offices, but often travel locally or nationally to clients' properties, and to meet with prospective clients or attend courses.

Subject Recommendations

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include accounting, business studies, economics and maths.

Related Courses

Property Managers can earn around $56K-$82K per year.

Pay for property managers varies depending on skills, experience and the type of work they do:

  • Property managers with up to three years' experience usually earn $56,000 to $82,000 a year.
  • Property managers with three or more years' experience can earn $82,000 to $112,000 a year.

Some residential property managers are paid a salary – others work on commission only.

Source: Hays, 'FY 23/24 Salary Guide', 2023.

Property managers may progress to own their own franchise.

They usually specialise in either residential properties or commercial properties such as retail spaces, office buildings, or industrial buildings.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become a property manager as you often gain skills on the job.

Commercial property manager

Commercial property companies usually prefer to hire graduates with a degree in property management, finance or marketing. Useful qualifications include: 

  • Bachelor of Property (Level 7)
  • Bachelor of Land and Property Management (Level 7)
  • Bachelor of Business – Property (Level 7).

Residential property manager

Residential property managers can train on the job and gain a New Zealand Certificate in Residential Property Management (Level 4). Ignite Colleges oversees this training.

Property Manager