Habitat Property Management services

Property management refers to the management of real estate properties on behalf of the owners. It involves tasks such as finding tenants, collecting rent, maintaining the property and handling any issues that arise. Property managers ensure the property is well-maintained and profitable for the owners.

• Deal with the tenant’s day-to-day needs and demands
• Advertise the property for rent
• Find and screen tenants
• Manage on-going reporting
• Manage leasing and tenancy agreement process
• Manage budgets and financial records
• Manage the rent, including setting, adjusting and collecting
• Signing of the tenancy agreement and collection of the security deposit
• Handle emergencies, complaints, evictions and other difficult issues
• Handle repairs and other renovation works efficiently
• Advise on specific local landlord-tenant laws
• Keep an eye on the tenant and ensure they are well looked after
• Prepare the property for tenant handover
• Handover and hand-back of premises, with release of security deposit

• Less tenant turnover and minimum vacancies, maximising annual rental yields
• Free up Landlord's time from managing day-to-day requests and complaints
• Ensuring compliance with tenancy laws
• Quality management attracts better tenants and retains them longer
• Regular communication and updates on property to Landlord
• Fewer problematic tenants due to tenant screening and selection
• Improved cash flow through regular rent collection, with systems in place to encourage timely tenant payment incl. penalties  
• Manage outgoings through timely invoice payment procedures
• Manage repairs and renovations works to maintain the property’s condition and maximise asset value
• Ensure any repairs or maintenance are carried out quickly and cost-effectively
• Accurate, itemized monthly statements
• Maximise rental returns by ensuring leasing in line with current market levels
• Advise what will make the property more appealing to maximise the rent achievable
• Property management fees are tax-deductible in Hong Kong if the property is owned in a company structure

As a property investor, you’ll know that finding the right property, in the right location with the right potential is only half the equation to achieving your investment goals. The next part is ensuring your property attracts and retains high-quality tenants, at the maximum rental and is vacant as little as possible. This is where Habitat's Property Management team help you to optimize your asset

1. The right market rent

The Hong Kong market is dynamic and can move quickly. Our property managers are savvy, and know what other similar properties nearby are renting for. This knowledge enables them to optimize the rental yield for your property.

If priced too low, you are not maximising rental yield; priced too high and it may result in unwanted vacancy between tenancies, hence a poor rental return. We are well-positioned to advise on how to achieve the highest rent, e.g. maybe small tweaks or renovation work is required to obtain the best possible results.

2. Maintaining your asset

A lot of tenants come to us specifically looking to be in properties we manage as they feel more comfortable and secure living in a home with professional housing management. Many landlords who attempt to manage properties by themselves run into troubles when they fail to fix a difficult issue within the apartment promptly. Tenants often leave properties without proper property management services when problems are not dealt with in a timely and professional manner. We see this happen all the time, and it causes frustration for both parties in the process. With our extensive experience in housing management, we can find out quickly what needs to be fixed and identify the root cause/s that are sometimes the responsibility (i.e. cost) of the tenant. 

Our bilingual property managers have an extensive network of maintenance contractors and specialists, who can be mobilized promptly and economically into action to fix any maintenance issue.

Tenants are also able to reach us anytime via our 24-hour hotline in case of an emergency.

3. Reaching the greatest number of potential tenants

When renting your property, knowing how to reach and appeal to the maximum number of relevant renters is crucial to finding the best tenant. A core benefit of our property management services is the increased exposure to potential clients.

Our ability to advertise properties promptly through our website, quality client database and powerful social media platforms means your property is more likely to be leased quickly at the maximum possible price.

By utilising Habitat’s property management services, your property is given priority on all our digital platforms (website / social media / database), where we have the largest following of any Hong Kong estate agency. 

4. Finding quality tenants

A good tenant who will treat your property with respect can mean the difference between a high and low-performing investment. Timely rental collection helps to better manage cash flow, which is a top priority. Maintaining a positive relationship with your tenant, means they are more likely to renew the tenancy, thereby reducing your turnaround costs and potential of no rental income over the changeover period. As Hong Kong's lead real estate agent and property management company, Habitat’s reach and reputation will connect your property with the most eligible, qualified renters in the market.

5. Accurate financial records

Keeping accurate accounting records is critical so that any property related expenses can be claimed correctly come tax time.

As part of our comprehensive property management services, we help do the bookkeeping, providing fully itemized monthly statements, along with comprehensive rental statements at the conclusion of each financial year for you to simply pass on to your accountant.

6. Collecting rent

Sometimes it can be difficult to collect money owed.  If you are a landlord with an investment loan, late monthly rental payments can directly impact your loan repayments and viability of the investment.

At Habitat, quality property management means collecting your rent on time.  We have robust rental arrears procedures that are implemented should a tenant fall behind.  Trusting an independent property manager to oversee rental payments removes the stress and saves your time.

7. Landlord-tenant laws

Habitat verifies all signed tenancy agreements, protecting the landlord and complying with local legislation. We ensure stamp duty payment and lease registration (CR109) are duly complied within the required time frame.