SECTOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
2021 in RPM — a year of Cs Jo Rae, Head of Property Management, REINZ
Head of Property Management at REINZ, Jo Rae, connected with key players in the Residential Property Management sector across the regions to learn what happened in their world in 2021 — covering COVID-19, ways of adapting work, weekly rental records and more.
Our portfolio of 780 properties has remained stable since COVID-19 changed our lives in 2020. We have not been immune to losing managements as owners repatriate from overseas or have decided to sell after the rise in house prices. We have worked hard to replace these properties by being experts in our field. With eight offices around our mountain, we have offered expertise and a hands-on property manager in every town — and that local knowledge has been invaluable when seeking out new business. Pam Hight, Rental Division Manager, McDonald Real Estate Ltd , Taranaki
Taranaki holds the fort in RPM Whilst Auckland has grappled with the complexities of operating in an extended lockdown, Taranaki has had the good fortune to lead a comparatively normal life — with some restrictions. With New Plymouth named the most liveable city for a population between 75,000 and 150,000, and the city with the most sunshine hours recorded in New Zealand, there has been something to celebrate amidst the problems COVID-19 has brought to our region. For property management, the last year has been the year of Cs — some good and some bad. COVID-19, compliance, change, calm and common sense. The last two Cs have been the most important to our team at McDonald Real Estate. To manage the rest of the Cs, we have kept reminding ourselves problems will be resolved with a calm manner and the use of common sense.
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The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand
Looking ahead into 2022 Our biggest challenge for 2022 is the shortage of rental housing in our region. With working from home becoming the new normal, we are seeing young people move away from the main cities to our region for an economic and lifestyle change, which has put pressure on available rental housing. Demand is outweighing supply at all levels of housing, resulting in some disheartening stories. This puts a lot of pressure on our property managers, who are not immune to the desperation of potential tenants and the situation they find themselves in. I am proud of our McDonald Real Estate team, who show a great willingness to learn and be there for each other. We have developed a great culture, and I believe that is key to having a successful rental division. Here’s to a 2022 of Ss — systems, structure, stability, and most of all, success for us all.
