Landlords think that switching agents is an enormous time consuming headache. It’s not! What many landlords don’t realise is, switching agencies can be as simple as giving written notice and the rest will be handled by your new agent on your behalf. Majority of management agency agreements run month to month and do not coincide with the fixed term of the tenancy agreement. This means you’re free to go at anytime by serving notice on the current agent. Typically, its 30 days notice required.

Real Property Manager will handle the changeover from start to finish and your tenant will not be disrupted in any way. The whole process really is easy and stress-free. The last thing a stressed out landlord wants is to have an uncomfortable conversation, or to risk being persuaded to stay for another management term with their current agent. A handover process will be quick and as painless for you and your involvement is minimal.

Here is the process of how we go about it:

• You inform us that you’d like us to take over the management of your property.
• You need to find out how much notice you need to give to your current agent. The notice period is written in your current agency agreement.
• You fill in and sign the pre- written notice template to terminate your current agreement
• We or you forward the notice to your current agency and arrange to pick up your property file and keys from their office.
• We notify your tenants of the change over date and welcome them via phone and email by providing them with a Real Property Manager induction.
• We become your new management agency (as of the agreed date) and life carries on as normal.
• We arrange a property inspection to familiarise ourselves with the property and meet the tenant face to face.

Some tips before doing a handover

If you’ve decided you’re ready to make the move and appoint a new property manager, there are a few things we recommended you do beforehand, to ensure your switch goes without a hitch.

1. Give the Required Notice

Check the termination clause of your management contract. Most management contracts require between 30 and 90 days notice to terminate a contract. If you don’t give the required notice, you risk breaching your contract and may be exposed to pay out the current agent with their management fees.

2. Put Your Notice in Writing

Notification to terminate a management agreement must be in writing. If arranging the termination yourself, we recommend sending the notice via email and follow up with a phone call to your property manager. That way you have it on record it was sent and received. Of course if you personally don’t want to get involved we can do this on you behalf.

3. Don’t make it Personal

If your experience has been upsetting or you’ve been treated poorly, it can be hard to keep the emotions at bay. Once you’ve made your decision to leave, remember this is a business decision. Just focus on the transaction and look forward to this new stage for you and your property.

4. Check For Any Hidden Costs

Even if you do give the required notice, sometime there are agencies who will charge a fee if a landlord terminates early. Check what your agency is entitled to before giving notice, so you’re prepared. You can then take the responsibility for paying the manager all fees they have incurred up until the contract termination effective date.

5. Ensure You Receive Copies of Important Paperwork

Always ensure you or your new agent receives copies of the current lease,condition/inspection reports, rental bond deposits and a statement of all income and expenses from your former agency for the current financial year. These documents should be sent to you or your new agent immediately upon take over of the management of the property and kept for your records.In NSW licensed agents must keep financial and legal records for any transactions for a period of 3 years of any former client they dealt with and/or collected rent on behalf off.

Are you ready to make a switch? Download the termination letter right now.

Download Transfer Letter Template

Need more information contact us on [email protected]