How to Switch Property Managers in WA (Even Mid-Lease)

Short answer: yes, you can change property managers in WA without upsetting your tenant or your lease. Here's exactly how the switch works, step by step.

Short answer: yes, you can change property managers in WA, even in the middle of a lease. Your tenant stays, the lease stays, the bond stays. The only thing that changes is who looks after it.

Most landlords who are unhappy with their agent put off switching because it feels awkward. It doesn't need to be. Below is exactly how it works, what gets handed over, and the one email you need to send.

Can I switch mid-lease? · The switch, step by step · The notice email · What gets handed over · Signs it's time to switch · FAQs

1) Can I switch property managers mid-lease?

Yes. Your tenant's lease is with you, the owner, not with the agency. When you change managers, the lease, the rent and the bond carry on exactly as they are. Your tenant just gets a new point of contact.

What you do need to check is your agreement with your current agent (often called the managing authority). It sets out:

The notice period you need to give.
Whether it has a fixed term, and what happens if you end it early.
Any fees still owed at the changeover.

Not sure what yours says? Send it to us and we'll read it with you. No obligation.

2) The switch, step by step

Read your current agreement. Note the notice period and any end-of-term or exit clauses.
Talk to us. We'll do a free rental appraisal, walk you through how we manage, and explain our service guarantee.
Sign with us. Once you've signed a management agreement with us, we're able to start organising the handover for you.
Send your notice by email. One short, polite email to your current agent. We'll help you write it (there's a sample below).
We handle the rest. We deal with your outgoing agent directly: keys, records, the bond paperwork, and introducing ourselves to your tenant.

Action this week: find your current managing authority and check the notice clause. That one page tells you your timeline.

3) The notice email (keep it short)

You don't need to explain yourself or have a hard conversation. Email is the easiest way to give notice, and it gives you a written record. Something like:

Hi [property manager],
Please accept this email as notice that I'm ending the management agreement for [property address], in line with the notice period in our agreement. My new property manager, Mandurah City Real Estate, will be in touch to arrange the handover of keys, records and bond details.
Thanks for your help to date,
[Your name]

That's it. From there, the outgoing agent talks to us, not you.

4) What gets handed over

A clean handover means nothing falls through the cracks. We collect:

Keys, remotes and access codes.
The lease and any renewals or variations.
Property condition reports (ingoing and recent routine inspections, with photos).
The rent ledger and any money held for you.
Bond details. The bond itself stays with the Bond Administrator; only the agent on the record changes. Your tenant doesn't need to sign anything for that, and they're sent an updated bond certificate.
Maintenance history, open jobs and safety records such as smoke alarm and RCD checks.

We then write to your tenant to introduce ourselves and explain how to pay rent from the changeover date.

5) Signs it's time to switch

You chase them for updates, rather than the other way round.
Routine inspections happen, but you never see a proper report with photos.
Your rent hasn't been reviewed in a long time.
Repairs happen without you knowing, or drag on for weeks.
Your property manager keeps changing, and nobody really knows your property.

If two or more of those sound familiar, it's worth a conversation.

FAQs

Will my tenant have to move out?
No. The lease stays in place. Only the manager changes.

Will I miss any rent during the changeover?
Rent keeps being paid. Your tenant is told the new payment details for the changeover date, and the outgoing agent settles up what they've collected.

Do I have to tell my old agent why I'm leaving?
No. A short notice email is enough.

Can I switch if I'm still in a fixed term with my current agent?
Check your agreement. Some have a fixed term or an early-exit clause. Send it to us and we'll go through it with you before you decide.

What does Mandurah City Real Estate charge?
Our management fee is 6.6% + GST, and we're backed by our service guarantee. Book a free rental appraisal and we'll walk you through exactly what's included.

Thinking about switching?

Switching agents? We handle the handover. Start with a free rental appraisal or call us on 08 9521 9090.