How to change property managers in NSW, even with a tenant in place
You can change property managers in NSW at any time, even in the middle of a lease. Check the notice period in your current management agreement, sign with the new agent, give written notice, and the new agent takes over the keys, records and bond details. The tenant stays, the lease stays, and the bond stays with NSW Fair Trading.
Many landlords stay with an agent they are unhappy with because they assume changing is complicated, or that it will upset the tenant. In practice the lease, the tenant and the bond all stay exactly where they are. Only the people managing the property change.
Step 1: Read your current management agreement
Before you contact anyone, find the agreement you signed with your current agent and check three things:
- The notice period. Most agreements ask for written notice, commonly 30 days, though some ask for 60 or 90.
- Fixed term or ongoing. If the agreement runs for a fixed term, check whether ending it early costs anything.
- Termination or exit fees. Some agencies charge a fee when you leave, or keep a share of the letting fee if the tenant they found stays on.
If anything in the agreement is unclear, ask your current agent to confirm the end date and any amount owing in writing.
Step 2: Sign with the new agent and give notice
Sign the new management agreement first, so there is no gap in who is responsible for the property. Then send your current agent written notice. Your new agent can usually prepare the letter for you. The current agent keeps managing the property, collecting rent and handling repairs until the notice period ends.
Step 3: The handover
On the handover date the outgoing agent should give the new agent everything they hold for the property. Use this as a checklist:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Signed lease and any renewals | Shows the current rent, term and special terms |
| Ingoing condition report and photos | The starting point for any bond claim when the tenant leaves |
| Routine inspection reports | Shows how the property has been kept |
| All keys, remotes and access fobs, with the key register | You need them for repairs and inspections |
| Tenant ledger and rent paid-to date | Confirms there are no arrears |
| Bond lodgement number | The bond stays with NSW Fair Trading; only the managing contact changes |
| Maintenance history, invoices and warranties | Avoids repeat call-outs and lost warranty claims |
| Smoke alarm service records | Landlords must keep alarms working and checked every year |
| Pet approvals and conditions, notices given, any NCAT matters | So nothing is missed after the change |
| Strata details and by-laws, water billing records | Needed for apartments and water usage charges |
Any rent the old agent is holding in trust is paid out to you in their final statement, after their fees and any outstanding invoices.
Step 4: Tell the tenant
The tenant must be told in writing about the new contact details and how to pay rent. NSW rules require tenants to be told about changes to these details within 14 days. A short, friendly letter from the new agent introducing themselves usually settles any questions. The tenant does not sign a new lease and the bond is not refunded or re-lodged.
A typical timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Week 0 | Sign with the new agent; written notice goes to the current agent |
| During notice | Current agent keeps managing; the new agent arranges the handover date |
| Handover day | Keys, documents and records move to the new agent |
| Within 14 days | Tenant gets written notice of the new contact details and rent account |
| First month | First statement from the new agent; a new inspection is booked if one is due |
Common worries
Will the tenant leave?
Changing agents does not end the lease or change its terms, and most tenants barely notice. Good communication on day one helps.
Can I switch in the middle of a lease?
Yes. The lease continues as normal. You only need to follow the notice period in your management agreement.
What does switching cost?
Check your current agreement for exit fees. Golden View does not charge a transfer fee. Our fees guide explains the other charges to compare.
Thinking about switching?
Golden View Property charges no transfer fee. We prepare the notice letter, collect the keys and records from your current agent, check the lease and condition report, and introduce ourselves to your tenant in English or Chinese.
Areas we manage:Sydney CBDHaymarketChatswoodUpper North ShoreEppingRydeMarrickvilleWolli CreekGosfordWoy WoyAll regions
Sources: NSW Government: information a tenant should get; NSW Government: releasing a bond; Fair Trading NSW. This guide is general information, not legal advice.