Responsibilities of a property management company in Kenya

We will cover the following topics:

1. What are the responsibilities of property management companies in Kenya?

Many property owners and investors hire property managers when they cannot or do not wish to handle duties such as collecting rent, issuing receipts, handling repairs, filling vacant units etc. Property managers can help in handling all of these tasks on your behalf. They can help with:

Setting and Collecting Rents

Best property management firms can help property owners set competitive rent rates that will attract and retain renters. They ensure tenants pay rent on time and enforce penalties in case of late payments.

Handling Property Maintenance and Repair

Professional property management companies also help in handling property maintenance and repair issues. Maintenance issues include broken windows, doors, plumbing, water shortage, cleaning and others. In general, they not only ensure your property is well maintained but also ensure tenant complaints are handled in good time.

Filling Vacant Units

Property management firms help with marketing to attract tenants. For example by advertising vacancies for rent on social media. In addition, they help convince tenants to take long-term lease contracts to ensure vacant units are occupied for a longer period.

As a property owner or investor, having known how a property manager can help you, how can you choose the right property manager for you?

2. Best criteria for choosing a property manager in Kenya.

As a landlord, you can use these criteria to hire a property manager. You need to know;

Company experience - A good rental management company must have a management license, and it should have a proven track record for at least one year. The property management company must have a good track record on how to work with tenants, fill vacant units, negotiate with maintenance and repair contractors among other things.
Property management fees - Most property management firms charge management fees of 5% to 10% of rental income while some companies charge a fixed fee per month. Make sure the property manager you‘re looking to hire offers reasonable property management services.
Accounting and record-keeping systems - A good property manager must have a property management software to handle tenant records and record keeping. Preferably they should use an electronic system that can be easily audited and can show a paper trail of payments and invoices.‍
Property inspections and maintenance regularity - An experienced property firm holds regular property inspections (at least once per month). You must know how often the company conducts formal inspections of your rental properties. This is important to ensure that your property is well maintained to prevent more costly repairs and maintenance.

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