The Elephant in the Room
The property podcast for the thinking person.

Episodes

Episode 462: Make Property Manager Safety Part of Tenancy Reform

NSW tenancy reforms are designed to strengthen protections for renters, particularly people escaping domestic violence. But as new responsibilities fall on property managers, are we adequately considering the safety, training and compliance burden being placed on the people expected to implement them?

In this episode, Veronica Morgan and Chris Bates speak with Alexandra Haggarty, an experienced property management business owner and industry advocate who was directly involved in NSW tenancy reform negotiations. They explore the tenancy reform impact on property managers, including new responsibilities around domestic violence, tenant privacy, workplace safety and increasingly complex rental laws.

Alexandra also examines the growing property management regulatory burden facing small agencies and the issue of property manager psychosocial safety when staff are placed in situations involving threats, intimidation or domestic violence. The discussion highlights the tension between protecting tenant privacy and giving businesses enough information to keep their teams safe.

The conversation then broadens to the implications for landlords, investors and the rental market. Insurance gaps, below-market rents, restrictions around rent increases and the potential impact on rental supply all raise questions about the unintended consequences of housing policy and rental reform. The episode also looks at the relationship between social housing shortages and growing pressure on the private rental market, alongside the practical implications for landlord rights and the balance between tenants’ and landlords’ rights.

For property managers, landlords and investors, this is an important look at what happens when property management regulation moves beyond legislation and into the day-to-day realities of managing rental properties — and why the consequences of rental reform need to be considered across the entire housing system.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Meet Alexandra Haggarty: Property Manager and Reform Advocate

02:13 – What NSW’s New Tenancy Reforms Actually Change

05:34 – When Domestic Violence Laws Can Be Weaponised

07:23 – Who Pays for Domestic Violence Property Damage?

10:23 – When Property Managers Must Face the Perpetrator

13:23 – Are Property Managers Being Given Enough Safety Support?

17:22 – Tenant Privacy vs Property Manager Safety

22:04 – How Photo Consent Could Change Property Sales

26:55 – Are Rising Costs Pushing Investors to Sell?

28:15 – The Problem With Keeping Rents Below Market

30:30 – How NSW Rent Rules Increase Landlord Risk

32:21 – Why Below-Market Rent Can Hurt a Future Sale

36:41 – The Hidden Housing Pressures Driving Rental Demand

38:06 – Why Social Housing Is Breaking Down

42:11 – The Exploding Compliance Burden on Small Agencies

45:42 – The Witches Who Took Over a Victorian Mansion

51:10 – The Sewer Surprise No Property Manager Expected

52:53 – Wrap Up and Key Takeaways

About the Guest

Alexandra Haggarty has worked in real estate since 2001, progressing from reception and property management into leadership and now serving as Managing Director, Licensee in Charge and owner of First National Maitland in the Lower Hunter Valley.

She has extensive experience at the intersection of property management, domestic violence and homelessness. In 2014, Alexandra pioneered an Australian-first partnership between a real estate agency and a domestic violence homelessness service provider, which has since helped more than 220 Maitland families escaping violence access housing.

Alexandra has also been directly involved in the tenancy reform process as Chair of the REINSW Property Management Chapter during the reform negotiations. Her perspective brings together the practical realities of running a property management business with years of experience working alongside people experiencing domestic violence and housing insecurity.

Connect with Alexandra

Resources:

Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au

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Chris Bates