What does a property manager
really cost you?
A property manager's percentage fee scales with your rent; self-managing software doesn't. Enter your numbers below to see a property manager's annual cost against self-managing with Keel - and what you'd keep.
- No signup to use it
- NZ fees + GST
- From $15/month
Your numbers
Self-managing with Keel could save you about
$3,533 /year
- Property manager / year
- $3,740
- Keel / year
- $207
Estimate only. Assumes the PM fee + a one-week letting fee per property per year, all GST-inclusive; Keel at published pricing ($15/mo + GST for 1 property). Real PM fees vary and often add inspection, renewal and admin charges.
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How much does a property manager cost in NZ?
Most NZ residential property managers charge 7-10% of the rent collected, plus GST, plus a letting fee of about one week's rent per new tenancy and per-occurrence charges for inspections and renewals. On a $600/week rental at 8.5%, the management fee alone is roughly $2,650 a year including GST - before letting and inspection fees.
Because the fee is a percentage of rent, it rises every time your rent does, and multiplies across a portfolio. Flat-priced self-managing software like Keel costs the same whether rent is $400 or $900 a week - which is why the gap widens as you grow. Whether a property manager is “worth it” comes down to one question: do you want to hand the job over entirely, or keep approving the decisions yourself for a fraction of the cost?
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Property manager cost questions.
How much does a property manager cost in New Zealand?
Most NZ residential property managers charge a management fee of 7-10% of the rent collected, plus GST. On top of that you'll usually pay a letting fee (often about one week's rent) each time they find a new tenant, and per-occurrence charges for inspections, lease renewals and admin. On a $600/week rental at 8.5%, the management fee alone is roughly $2,650/year including GST, before letting and inspection fees.
Is a property manager worth it, or should I self-manage?
A property manager is worth it if you want the job fully handed over and don't mind paying 8-10% of rent for it. If you're comfortable approving decisions yourself, self-managing software does the admin - rent tracking, compliance reminders, tenant messages, notices - for a flat monthly fee instead of a percentage. The more your rent (and portfolio) grows, the bigger the gap, because a percentage fee scales with rent while software doesn't.
How much does Keel cost compared to a property manager?
Keel is flat per-property pricing - $15/month for one property, graduated, capped at $99/month for 10 or more, all plus GST. A property manager's percentage fee on the same portfolio is typically several times that once management, letting and per-occurrence fees are counted. Use the calculator above to compare your own numbers.
What does a property manager do that software doesn't?
A property manager physically attends inspections, fields tenant calls, and coordinates tradies on your behalf - a real service if you don't want to be involved at all. Keel keeps you in the approval seat: its AI assistant Skip drafts tenant replies, triages maintenance, and chases arrears, and you sign off before anything is sent. Different operating models - one hands it over, one keeps you in control for less.
Keep more of your rent
Self-manage with the admin done for you.
30-day free trial. No credit card. No lock-in. From $15/month + GST.
- From $15/month
- AI assistant included
- Built for NZ