Terminating property management contract

Our Experts Answer:

Such clauses are not uncommon in property management agreements. They recognise that the property manager does a lot of work in seeking, vetting and signing tenants for your property, and the property manager wishes to recover the costs of such work through management fees over the duration of the tenancy. In normal circumstances this suits a property owner as well as the property manager, as it provides certainty for both parties. As it is a contractual term, you must abide by it.

However, your property manager is your agent, and must act in accordance with your best interests. If the property manager is not carrying out the duties required by the agreement, you may consider that they have breached the agreement. You should discuss your concerns with the property manager and try to get resolution of your issues.

If you cannot resolve matters and you still want to terminate the management, you may apply to the Disputes Tribunal for termination of the management. Be aware, though, that you will have to establish that the agent has breached their management agreement so seriously as to render the agreement unworkable. Simply being dissatisfied is not enough reason to terminate the contract.