Hiring a Professional Landlord Property Manager in France

• • Roles of a Property Manager

• • Property Manager Services

• • Hiring Property Managers: Step-by-step guidance

• • Using Technology in Property Management

A landlord manager in France typically takes care of things on behalf of the landlord. 

Landlord managers are responsible for minimizing property owners’ risks. To do this, they handle various tasks, from conducting market research to lease negotiations and beyond.

Furthermore, the landlord’s manager handles tasks related to managing the property, such as collecting rent, overseeing maintenance and repairs, and addressing tenant concerns. Here are some specific roles that a landlord manager might fulfill:

Roles of a Property Manager

1. Tenant Management

Landlord managers vet potential tenants, show the property, handle lease agreements, and ensure the landlord’s and tenant’s rights are respected.

2. Maintenance and Repairs

The manager is in charge of keeping the property in shape. They handle maintenance tasks, deal with any repair issues that come up, and sometimes work with contractors and service providers.

3. Financial Responsibilities

A landlord manager manages rent collection and oversees the property finances, which may involve paying property taxes and utility bills if agreed upon in the service contract.

4. Legal Compliance

A landlord’s manager ensures that the property meets housing laws and regulations regarding safety standards and adherence to rent control laws.

Landlord managers are often enlisted when property owners prefer not to manage their properties themselves or may not be available. These managers can work independently or as part of a property management firm.

For instance, today’s world widely recognizes managing properties for absentee homeowners in France as a business opportunity. Rightfully so. Having a property manager for your vacation home is truly invaluable. With a year-round, you have someone local to handle any unexpected situations that may arise, whether it’s a broken washing machine or storm damage.

After all, this ensures peace of mind, knowing someone is taking care of your property when you’re away. You’ll always have someone to contact for assistance and prompt issue resolution, even if you’re thousands of miles away.

For those considering short-term rentals, having a property manager becomes more crucial. You’ll require someone to manage changeovers and laundry services, welcome guests upon arrival, and handle any problems or emergencies during their stay. Furthermore, the property manager will conduct quality checks and connect with local artisans who can promptly address minor repairs.

Property Manager Services

These professionals support activities including administration, tenant strategy, and negotiations on behalf of landlords, protecting their interests. Representative services for landlords may include:

General management

• • Tenant management;

• • Negotiating lease terms;

• • Providing legal advice and support;

• • Marketing and advertising the project;

• • Prospecting and screening qualified tenants;

• • Increasing property value.

Accounting and administration

• • Send rent receipts and notices of monthly rent to tenants;

• • Manage and control the rental payment process;

• • Oversee the property’s rental and maintenance costs;

• • Create an annual revenue and expense summary;

• • Oversee the return and collection of the security deposit;

• • When establishing or extending a contract, review and adjust the rent;

• • Execute and monitor insurance for both landlords and tenants;

• • Address possible disputes and conflicts;

• • Manage insurance claims.

Operational management

• • Handle the relationship with a tenant;

• • Perform and monitor technical diagnostics;

• • Complete and submit Etat des lieux (inventory checks).

Property maintenance

• • Respond to any technical issues as soon as possible;

• • Manage routine maintenance;

• • Organize and oversee any repairs that the tenant makes;

• • During the rental period, take care of any damage.

Hiring Property Managers: Step-by-step guidance

Property managers can provide valuable assistance for the right property and landlord. So, the following steps can help you choose a property manager who offers customized services.

Step 1. Your rental property isn’t close to your house.

It is more challenging to manage an investment property the farther away you live from it. Suppose your primary residence is in a different country or even overseas. In that case, you will find it more difficult to find renters, manage tenant complaints, respond swiftly to emergencies, handle maintenance issues, and even ensure timely rent payments.

The time and money you spend traveling to the property will also increase. In such cases, hiring a competent property manager can make sense and save you money.

 Step 2. You own several properties.

As the quantity of units you possess grows, so do your obligations. You will deal with more maintenance problems, complaints, and vacancies the more tenants you have. Furthermore, suppose your units are dispersed among several locations. In that case, you will have to invest much more time overseeing each one’s cash flow and making the physical commute between properties address problems.

Step 3. You don’t have sufficient time for property management.

The success of your real estate investment may depend on selecting a competent property manager if you are a full-time worker and cannot provide your property with the care it requires.

Recognize that managing a property requires time and that time equals money.

Hiring an outside manager can be the best option if you feel that the daily responsibilities of property management are taking up time that you could be using to further your career or explore other investments.

Step 4. You don’t handle dealing with tenants well.

 Are you experiencing stress from handling complaints, evictions, and maintenance issues? Property managers are adept at resolving disputes between tenants and landlords. They can act as mediators or buffers between parties and know landlord-tenant law.

Furthermore, tenants might behave more professionally if they know they are interacting with a third party.

Just because you are new to real estate investing, have many units, or are experiencing problems filling vacancies does not mean you have to engage a property manager. Everyone must begin learning somewhere; the best instructor is frequently personal experience.

Step 5. Your experience in property management is limited.

Hiring a qualified property manager can be the best option for you if you want to invest in real estate but have no experience with property management. Acquiring knowledge on the fly can become highly costly.

Hiring the wrong repairer or waiting too long to replace a vacancy can quickly reduce a first-time property investor’s potential income.

Errors like being labeled as a slumlord for failing to replace the heat on time, or being accused of discrimination because you were ignorant of Fair Housing regulations, might cause your investment to fail.

It’s also critical to remember that selecting an incompetent property manager can
destroy your investment. This is why it is so important to research and thoroughly screen a property manager before hiring one.

Step 6. You are facing challenges with your rent income.

Reputable property managers can promptly find and evaluate potential renters and maintain a network of economical, dependable contractors for any necessary repairs. Since most seasoned property managers are also familiar with landlord-tenant law, there is less chance of a lawsuit.

Step 7. You are prepared to take on the liability of a property manager.

Property managers can make decisions on your behalf but also make mistakes, which could come at a high cost. “Hold harmless” clauses, which shift liability from the manager to the property owner in cases of egregious negligence, are frequently seen in property management contracts.

For instance, a complaint has been made against the property manager for allegedly breaking Fair Housing regulations while seeking rent. You may be held accountable as the property owner even though you did not conduct the offense, but you employed the offender.

Step 8. You are ready to give up control.

Everything from collecting rent to filing taxes for the property can fall within the scope of property managers. Would you be willing to surrender that much power to someone else? Do they share your enthusiasm for your investment, even though they may possess certification and experience?

Step 9. Hiring a property manager is within your budget.

You should evaluate your financial situation before hiring a property manager. Managers typically charge fees ranging from 4% to 10% of the property’s gross monthly income. The typical price for a single-family rental property is closer to 10%. The charge usually ranges from four to seven percent for a property with ten units or more.

For instance, a single-family property with a $1,000 gross monthly revenue may be subject to a 10% management fee, or $100, instead of a 5% fee of merely $50. In this case, more than $50 monthly for property management services would be needed to attract a quality professional.

However, a 5% management charge ($1,000) for more significant properties would be sufficient to draw in an experienced expert, given that the monthly income is assumed to be $20,000.

Tenant placement fees are an additional cost that certain property managers impose as a bonus for locating a tenant. These costs can range from several hundred dollars to the equivalent of a month’s rent.

Using Technology in Property Management

If you decide not to hire a manager, you can employ technology to simplify property management tasks. Software tools for property management can assist with tasks such as tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance scheduling. These tools often provide cloud-based access, enabling you to manage your property from anywhere in the world.

Examples of Rental Property Management Software:

• • Buildium

• • TurboTenant

• • AppFolio

• • Propertyware

• • SimplifyEm

• • MRI Software

• • Yardi Breeze

If feasible, allocate time to visit your property annually. This allows you to meet with your property manager, personally inspect the property, and build relationships with your tenants. These visits may also provide insights into the real estate market and potential upgrades to enhance your home’s value.

While being an absentee landlord in France has its challenges, it can also be rewarding with planning and resources. Regardless of your location, you can ensure the management of your property and income by understanding local regulations, investing in reliable local staff, and leveraging modern technologies.

Please note: This article does not constitute legal advice – the information on this page has been prepared solely for your information. As we are not a law firm and act as a platform, we can and may share our estimations, but we cannot give you legal advice for your individual further proceedings.