How do I know if my current rent is below market?

The quickest check is to search current listings for comparable properties on realestate.com.au and Domain — same suburb, similar configuration, similar building type. If comparable properties are listed for rent at $100+ per week above what you're currently charging, you are likely below market. A formal rental appraisal from a local specialist will give you a specific, evidence-based answer. Space Property Agency provides these at no cost for landlords considering our management services.

What's the most common reason landlords don't address Mistake 1 (underrenting)?

Inertia — combined with a genuine reluctance to risk losing a good tenant over a rent increase. This is understandable but typically misplaced. A rent increase grounded in current comparable market evidence is generally accepted by quality tenants who have verified the market themselves. The tenants most likely to leave over a market-rate rent increase are those who know they are being charged below market — which is precisely the situation most worth addressing.

How much does a thorough tenant screening process actually take?

A properly conducted screening process — income verification, reference calls, database checks, affordability assessment — takes approximately two to four hours per application set. For a property attracting ten applications, that's a meaningful time investment. It's also the investment that protects you from a tenancy failure that costs months of rent, NCAT proceedings, and re-letting costs. The hourly return on thorough screening is among the highest of any activity in investment property management.

5 Mistakes Inner-Sydney Landlords Make — and How to Avoid Every One of Them

What mistakes do inner-Sydney landlords most commonly make? Space Property Agency identifies the top 5 — from underrenting to poor tenant selection — and explains exactly what to do instead to protect and grow your investment.