How much do property managers charge in Brisbane?

Most Brisbane property managers charge a management fee of around 7% to 9% plus GST of the rent collected, plus a one-off letting fee when a new tenant is signed (usually one to two weeks of rent). Brisbane Rental Co charges a flat 7% + GST with no setup, admin or statement fees.

The two fees that matter most

Property management pricing in Brisbane comes down to two core charges:

• Management fee. An ongoing percentage of the rent collected, charged each time rent comes in. This is the headline number, usually 7% to 9% plus GST.
• Letting fee. A one-off charge for finding and placing a new tenant, typically one to two weeks of rent. You only pay it when a new lease is signed.

On a property renting at $600 per week, a 7% + GST management fee works out to about $46 per week, or roughly $2,400 a year, while an 8.5% fee is closer to $2,900 a year. Over a long tenancy that difference adds up.

The extra fees to watch for

The headline percentage is not always the full story. Some agencies add charges that are easy to miss in the agreement:

• Monthly admin or statement fees
• Lease preparation and lease renewal fees
• Routine inspection fees
• End-of-financial-year statement fees
• Marketing fees marked up well above the actual advertising cost
• Technology or platform fees

Individually these look small, but together they can lift the real cost well above the advertised rate. When you compare quotes, ask for the all-in cost, not just the percentage (our guide to choosing a manager has the full checklist). Brisbane Rental Co does not charge any of these. Our fee is a flat 7% + GST plus the letting fee, and advertising is passed on at cost when we list (typically $250 to $350) with no markup. Nothing hidden.

What the management fee actually pays for

A management fee covers the work of keeping your property leased, compliant and looked after: rent collection and arrears management, routine inspections with photo reports, coordinating repairs and maintenance, tenant communication, monthly financial statements, and keeping the tenancy compliant with Queensland legislation. The cost of repairs themselves is separate and paid from the rent or by you. For everything the fee covers day to day, see what a property manager does.

Is the cheapest manager the best value?

Not always. The true cost of a property manager is the fee plus the cost of the things a weaker manager lets slip: longer vacancies, a poorly screened tenant, slow maintenance and rent arrears. A manager charging one percent less but leaving your property vacant an extra fortnight has already cost you more than they saved. Value is about the result, not just the rate, which is why communication and leasing speed matter as much as the percentage.

Questions to ask before you sign

• What is the all-in cost, including every fee, not just the management percentage?
• Is there a lock-in contract, or is it month to month?
• Who manages my property day to day, and how do I reach them?
• How quickly do you respond to owners and tenants?
• What is your current average vacancy and how do you price rent?

Common questions