apm Client Newsletter – July 2025
Posted by apm on July 29, 2025 Body Corporate, Commercial, Company News, News, Newsletter, Property Management
Welcome to the July 2025 Client Newsletter
Riding Out the Rental Market Storm
Recent insights from Economist Tony Alexander highlight a significant shift in the rental property market. Just 14 months ago, 25% of landlords said it was easy to find a good tenant—now 40% are saying it’s difficult. Our own Commercial Asset Managers are reporting a similar story across the commercial property sector. It’s certainly been a rapid turnaround.
However, as history has shown time and time again, supply and demand eventually find their balance and normality resumes. Like Tony, I’m not offering financial advice—nor would I pretend to be impartial given our line of work at apm—but I can share what my wife and I are doing. We’ve chosen to weather the storm and hold onto our rental properties. Selling when values are low, only to buy again when the market rebounds, simply doesn’t make sense to us.
In times like these, it’s more important than ever to look after your good tenants. Well-maintained properties will always attract quality tenants, regardless of market swings. We’re clearly not the only ones thinking long-term—Tony’s research shows 56% of landlords intend to hold their investment properties for 10 years or more.
So, if you’re feeling the pressure, take heart. Hang in there—good times will return!
Kind regards
Bill Highet
Managing Director
apm
Landlord Insurance for Rental Properties
Have you got the right insurance for you and your investment property? House insurance is important to have to cover your property for any damage, loss, or unexpected event that could occur. Having landlord specific insurance is even more beneficial for those with rental properties to ensure your investment is protected beyond a standard home insurance policy and can even cover you for things like loss of rent, intentional damage, meth contamination and damage to furnishings.
Chat to your Property Manager who can point you in the right direction regarding landlord specific insurance.
Healthy Homes Deadline Surpassed
All rental properties now must comply with the Healthy Homes Standards unless exemptions apply. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that their rental properties meet the minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping, and continue to do so over the course of renting the property. Our Property Managers will continue to work with landlords to ensure their property meets legal requirements and protect against any financial penalties.
Congratulations to the large majority of our owners who have met compliance to the Healthy Homes Standards!
What’s the Difference? Building Manager vs Property Manager vs Facilities Manager vs Body Corporate Manager
In multi-unit residential and commercial buildings across New Zealand, a range of professionals help keep the property running smoothly. But with so many similar-sounding titles, it’s easy for body corporate owners and committees to get confused about who does what.
Understanding the difference between a building manager, property manager, facilities manager, and body corporate manager is essential for effective decision-making, budgeting, and communication within your complex.
Click here to learn about each role and how they relate to body corporate operations >
The Important Role of a Commercial Property Manager
Commercial Property Managers (also known as Asset Managers) can be essential to ensuring the smooth operation, profitability, and long-term value of commercial investment properties. Tasked with overseeing a diverse range of responsibilities such as tenant lease management, financial oversight, maintenance management or compliance, commercial property managers act as the critical link between property owners, tenants, service providers, and regulatory bodies.
apm News
Meet our new team member
7 Questions With…
Nick Olliver, Facilities Manager
Q 1. How long have you been working in Facilities Management?
I have been working in Facilities both commercial and Residential for around 10 years in NZ, Aus and the UK.
Q 2. What benefits can a Facilities Manager provide investors?
Taking on the responsibility of ensuring a site works efficiently, effectively, and safe by making sure all preventive maintenance is upheld with an eye on the future and ensuring all residents/tenants are safe and compliant with changing regulations. They take the hassle of managing contractors and ensuring the most cost effective solutions that may arise.
Q 3. What would your advice be to a Committee contemplating using Facilities Management services for a Body Corporate?
A Facilities Manager (FM) will be able to add value in the long term by acting on their best interests in making sure each site is safe whilst acting as your eyes and hands on site often preventing issues before they become costly. An FM often improves communication, reliability and fast response time which keeps residents happier, reduces complaints, and increases owners free time to focus on their lives offering piece of mind for both current and future owners.
Q 4. What’s a typical day for you look like?
A typical day often involves responding to emails from owners/committees, meeting with contractors on site, booking in planned maintenance works while also researching best practical solutions to everyday problems that may arise. A typical day is never the same in FM as we can often be called to urgent matters like leaking buildings or flooding etc.
Q 5. What do you like to do to relax?
I enjoy watching tv shows, movies and producing music in my spare time.
Q 6. What’s a country you would like to travel to and why?
Japan – mainly for the food.
Q 7. What do you like to listen to while driving – e.g. radio station, music, podcasts, audio books?
I listen to podcasts on my way to work, these are usually MMA podcasts or racing related, In the weekends or on my way home I will generally listen to my Spotify playlists.