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Property Manager

Kaiwhakahaere Papa Whenua

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

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Secondary education

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

Study fields

Study levels

  • Certificate
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Up to NCEA Level 3

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.

What you will do

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.

Skills and knowledge

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.

Pay

Property managers with up to three years' experience usually earn

$56K-$82K

per year

Property managers with more than three years' experience can earn

$82K-$122K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a property manager are good due to increasing demand for their services.

Industry

Property Services

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

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

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.

Chances of getting a job

Growing demand for property managers

Demand for property managers is growing due to:

  • rental property owners choosing to hire property managers because they need to comply with more complex legal requirements
  • increasing investment in rental and commercial (particularly industrial) property.

According to the Census, 7,881 property managers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Property managers can work for:

  • large or small property management agencies
  • institutional investors who run property funds
  • government departments with property portfolios.

According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, about 40% of property managers are self-employed.

Find out more about training

Property Institute
0800 698 258 - national@property.org.nz - www.propertyinstitute.nz
Ignite Colleges
0800 200 345 - info@ignitecolleges.ac.nz - https://ignitecolleges.ac.nz

Progression and specialisations

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.

Working 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.

Useful 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.

Industry

Property Services

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

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