Insights

Key takeaways

• Managing your own commercial property is possible, but it's often more complicated than landlords initially expect.
• Self-management carries a range of risks and challenges that can impact your investment's performance.
• Aegis offers professional management, with a dedicated team focused on protecting your investment and maximising returns.

Many commercial property owners wonder, 'Can I manage my own property?'  

Self-management can seem appealing. You went into property investment to make money - and property managers cost money, right? 

Going it alone saves on fees and gives you control over tenants, maintenance, compliance and finances.

However, while it may seem cost-effective upfront, self-management carries significant risks.

Without professional systems, it's easy to miss rent payments, lease escalations, safety and compliance requirements, recoverable expenses and critical dates - which could lead to fines, disputes and lost income.

Managing everything solo can also overwhelm your work-life balance and become a major source of anxiety.

Just as you rely on a lawyer for legal matters or a dentist for dental care, entrusting your commercial property to a specialist property manager ensures you're in expert hands.  

Plus, in Queensland, property management fees are recoverable  from tenants, effectively making professional management a cost-neutral investment.

Here's some more detail on what it entails to manage your own commercial property, and why handing over to experts can pay off.

Legal Requirements and Licensing

 So, can you manage a property without a licence? Well, that depends on your location and property specifics.

In Queensland, for example, managing commercial properties often requires a real estate licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading. This licence ensures you meet necessary training, regulatory and ethical standards to manage leases, collect rent, oversee maintenance and comply with tenancy laws.

Without the appropriate licence, you could face fines, legal disputes and liability.

You must also keep certifications current, meet safety standards and manage financial accounts correctly in order to avoid costly penalties and protect your investment.

When it comes to insurance, some providers require professional management coverage, which helps to reduce risks such as tenant damage, rental losses and maintenance issues.

Understanding these legal and licensing demands is essential before self-managing.

Licensed professionals like those at Aegis Property Management have the expertise and systems to navigate these complexities, shielding you from risks and ensuring compliance.

The Hidden Challenges of Self-Management

If you do decide to go it alone, the first question is how.

'How to manage my own rental property' is a popular online search — and for good reason; there's a lot to understand.

If you don't fully grasp the role, risks include missing rent or outgoings, overpaying contractors, mishandling arrears, and incorrectly issuing breach notices needed for legal evictions. Neglected maintenance, non-compliance, poor building service management and insurance gaps add further complications. 

These include unknowingly paying insurance premiums for common areas already covered through the body corporate insurance, or missing out on recoverable expenses.

Without professional systems and experience, self-managing can lead to legal trouble, strained tenant relationships and operational headaches that erode your investment's value.

Financial and Time Considerations

Self-managing your commercial property may seem like a way to save, but it often costs more through missed rent, steep contractor prices and overlooked lease terms.

Mistakes like ignoring CPI escalations and late tenant notice responses, and neglected maintenance can reduce your returns, trigger expensive repairs or make tenants unhappy.

Aegis Property Management's full-service approach not only protects your income but also reduces your workload.

Our property managers handle all daily tasks of tenant and property management, ensuring legal compliance and safeguarding owners' rights.

Acting as neutral professionals, we manage rent collection, tenant disputes and lease enforcement with expertise. And with access to specialist resources and systems, we efficiently oversee maintenance, tenant communication and regulatory duties, making property ownership smoother and more secure.

This frees you up to focus on what matters, while securing steady revenue and long-term growth.

When Self-Management Might Work

Self-management can work well for small-scale, low-risk properties, which are less complex when it comes to tenant relations, maintenance and compliance.

However, the reality is that commercial property management is technical, and requires professional management due to its scale, regulatory requirements and operational complexity.

Even experienced owners gain value from expert support, which helps boost income, maintain compliance, cuts out stress, and best of all, provides an extra layer of security through their professional indemnity insurance in case anything goes astray.

At Aegis, we also understand that professional management is not one-size-fits-all.  We tailor our service to match your involvement level, enhancing property performance while allowing you to stay hands-on if you prefer.

The Value of Professional Property Management

While managing your own commercial property can save money, it often comes with heavy workloads and real legal and financial risks.

Professional management demands higher upfront fees but brings skilled managers and teams who maximise returns, reduce stress, ensure compliance and provide peace of mind. Those fees are also 100% recoverable from your tenant in Queensland, so in reality, it’s a free-fee-for-service role.

At Aegis, our client-first approach makes us your trusted partner, proactively caring for and growing your investment.

Considering self-management? Protect your investment with expert support. Aegis ensures your property is professionally managed for maximised returns, tenant satisfaction and compliance.

Contact us today for a free property management consultation.

Tiff, perhaps link to Blog 1: Property Management Costs Explained