Kolmeo's State of Property Management Survey sets a new national benchmark for the industry

[Melbourne, Australia, 24 July, 2026] - Nearly two in five Australian property managers are considering leaving the profession or remain uncertain about their future, according to Australia's first independent State of Property Management Survey, highlighting the need for a stronger evidence base to better understand the challenges facing one of the country's most critical industries.

Commissioned by Kolmeo and independently analysed by leading research consultancy Kantar, the inaugural survey gathered insights from over 400 property management professionals across Australia, creating what Kolmeo intends to become the industry's annual benchmark.

While conversations around property management have historically relied on alarming yet anecdotal evidence, Scott Bateman, CEO of Kolmeo, said the profession had reached a point where independent research was needed to better understand what was really happening on the ground.

"Property management has undergone enormous change over the past decade, but we've never had a national benchmark that genuinely captures the experiences of the people doing the work every day.

"We knew there were increasing pressures around workload, compliance and workforce retention, but rather than relying on assumptions, we wanted to create an independent evidence base that the entire industry could learn from," said Scott.

Beyond providing a snapshot of the profession today, Scott said the survey was designed to become a long-term resource for agencies, industry bodies and policymakers, helping track how the profession evolves over time and a blueprint for where change is needed most.

"The value of this report isn't simply the findings themselves. It's creating a benchmark the industry can return to year after year to measure progress, identify emerging challenges and make more informed decisions," he said.

The research paints a picture of a profession under increasing pressure while also highlighting opportunities for positive change. Alongside the finding that nearly two in five property managers are considering leaving or are uncertain about their future, the survey found 63 per cent feel overwhelmed by their workload, while 43 per cent identified legislative change as the biggest operational challenge facing agencies, followed by compliance pressures (32 per cent). At the same time, 65 per cent of agencies reported already using or testing AI, signalling growing confidence in technology to reduce administrative burden and support the profession.

The report represents one of the most experienced snapshots of the industry to date, with 65 per cent of respondents having worked in property management for more than 10 years and 78 per cent aged 35 years or older, reinforcing the importance of attracting, developing and retaining the next generation of property management professionals.

Drawing on these findings, the report identifies three priorities for the future of the profession: simplifying work by reducing unnecessary administrative complexity, investing in people through stronger leadership and career development, and enabling the future through responsible innovation and AI.

Scott said the findings reinforce that the future of property management is not simply about adopting new technology, but about creating a stronger, more sustainable profession.

"Technology is only one part of the equation. If we want property management to thrive over the next decade, we also need to invest in people, simplify the work and make better decisions based on evidence rather than assumption," he said.

"Our goal is not simply to publish a report, but to contribute something meaningful to the profession and provide a blueprint that helps shape its future."

The State of Property Management Survey was commissioned by Kolmeo and independently analysed by Kantar. Kolmeo intends for the research to become an annual industry benchmark, supporting ongoing discussion, research and collaboration across the property management sector.

To access the full State of Property Management Survey, visit https://kolmeo.com/future-of-property-management-2026-report 

To learn more about Kolmeo, please visit https://kolmeo.com/

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