Property manager breaks down in tears as tensions between tenants and landlords intensify
Property managers can get a bad rap, being forced to act as a middleman between tenant and landlord disputes. But a young worker has opened up about the pressures of the 50-hour-a-week job that some may consider "easy" as the toll the cost-of-living crisis has had on tensions in the industry is revealed.
Paige Kelly has been working as a property manager in Sydney for two years and spoke to Yahoo Finance to dispel misconceptions about the job after breaking down in tears on a particularly difficult day.
The 20-year-old described herself as a "hard worker" who tried to do the best for her clients.
But sometimes the demanding job can take an emotional toll, resulting in a "snowball effect".
"People don't realise how much time, energy and effort goes into this job," Kelly said.
RELATED
-
Property manager defends controversial message as renters lash out at 'utterly insulting' email
-
Telstra slapped with $600,000 fine over 10 million texts sent to Aussies: ‘We’re sorry’
"On the surface, they must think it's quite a fun job and probably wouldn't be too difficult.
"But if you were in this position, you'd realise what it entails, and how much organisation, conversation, and communication it requires."
The cost-of-living crisis has put property managers squarely in the middle of a power struggle with landlords and tenants.
If either has an issue, they relay it to the other party and try to find a solution or a compromise.
Renters have been overwhelmed with price hikes or delayed repairs, while landlords have managed record-high interest rates.
"Sometimes it gets a lot for me to deal with," Kelly said.
"A lot of the time, they're taking their frustration out on me, but they're not actually angry at me.
"They're just frustrated with the situation.
"That's what I try to tell myself when I am getting upset with things."
Do you have a horrible work story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
'Haven't see anything like this': Pressure mounts on busy industry
The average Aussie property manager is usually juggling around 100 to 150 homes at once, according to iThink Property.
Kelly said her team of four splits their time between 320 properties in Sydney's east.
She works six days a week and clocks close to 50 hours, but that can escalate if there are pressing issues needing to be fixed.
"I do believe I'm a hard worker. I do everything very efficiently, and I'm very on top of stuff," she said.
