Special Offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $75 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored jobs are 4.5X more likely to result in a hire.**
  • Invite top candidates to apply with Instant Match
  • Get more visibility in search results
  • Appear to more candidates longer

Property Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Last updated: September 27, 2023

A property manager, or Residential Property Manager, is responsible for overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of residential properties and tenant satisfaction. Their duties include scheduling routine maintenance like landscaping, mowing lawns, replacing roof tiles or changing air vents, overseeing a team of resident and maintenance staff and enforcing rental terms.

Build a Job Description

property manager duties and responsibilities

Illustration of manager showing property two prospective tenants.Text reads: "Sample property manager responsibilities:Collect rent from tenants,Conduct property tours,Advertise vacant properties,Investigate and resolve property complaints"

The duties and responsibilities section of a job description tells candidates what they will be expected to do as a Property Manager. The most common responsibilities of Property Managers are:

  • Collecting rent and other property fees from tenants and individual owners
  • Paying property expenses, including taxes, mortgages, payroll, insurance premiums and maintenance costs
  • Reporting the property’s financial status, occupancy and expiring leases to property owners
  • Meeting potential tenants, showing them the property and assessing their applications in accordance with anti-discrimination laws
  • Advertising vacant properties and hiring a leasing agent to find tenants as needed
  • Inspecting properties and arranging for repairs and new materials as required
  • Arranging contracts for maintenance, trash removal, landscaping, security and other ongoing services and managing disputes with these service providers where appropriate
  • Investigating and resolving property complaints and rental violations
Build a Job Description

Property Manager Job Description Examples

What does a Property Manager do?

property manager typically work for apartment complexes and housing communities to assist tenants with maintenance requests and oversee the process of preparing properties for new tenants. They work closely with Leasing Agents to address tenant issues and changes to rental agreements. Their job is to maintain relationships with local landscaping, plumbing or electrical services to coordinate routine or emergency requests from tenants. They may also be responsible for performing inspections after tenants leave to make sure they didn’t cause any damage to the property during the time of their lease.

Property Manager skills and qualifications

Common skills and qualifications for Property Managers include:

  • Customer service and interpersonal skills needed to meet with prospective and current tenants
  • Good verbal communication
  • Attention to detail to ensure applications are accurate and tenant issues or questions are adequately addressed
  • Organization and the ability to multitask efficiently
  • Problem-solving to find effective solutions for a variety of potential issues
  • Knowledge of rental contracts and property and anti-discrimination laws

Property Manager salary expectations

A property manager makes an average salary of $50,065 per year. Pay rate may depend on level of experience, education and the geographical location.

Property Manager education and training requirements

Property Managers need a high school diploma or a GED. You may prefer hiring someone with a degree in real estate, business administration, public administration, accounting or finance. Commercial and offsite property management roles often require a degree.

Some states require that Property Managers hold a real estate license. You may prefer hiring someone licensed by BOMI International, the Community Associations Institute, the Institute of Real Estate Management or another organization, since licenses can prove competence.

property manager experience requirements

Your Property Manager job description should specify the amount of experience you want applicants to have. Ideally, candidates should have at least three years of experience working in an associated position such as real estate sales. Some companies prefer applicants who have worked as Property Managers before if the position involves a commercial or offsite property.

Job description samples for similar positions

If our job description sample for a property manager does not meet your needs, consider using one of these job description samples for a similar position:

Ready to Hire a Property Manager?Build a Property Manager Job Description

Frequently asked questions about Property Managers

What is the difference between a Property Manager and a Community Manager?

The difference between a Property Manager and a Community Manager is their range of job responsibilities and the types of environments they oversee. For example, Property Managers have a responsibility to oversee the maintenance of residential properties like homes or apartment units. They make sure residential properties adhere to health and safety codes and communicate with tenants to collect payments and address maintenance needs.

In contrast, Community Managers work for housing associations or a housing board. Their job is to help maintain public areas in neighborhoods or apartment complexes. For example, they are in charge of scheduling maintenance repairs for playgrounds or ensure routine upkeep of pool facilities.

What are the daily duties of a Property Manager?

On a typical day, a Property Manager starts by communicating with Leasing Agents about current vacancies or prospective tenants. They take calls from current tenants and answer questions about maintenance repairs or payment options. Throughout the day, Property Managers visit rental properties and perform inspections of the interior or exterior of the building. They use downtime in their office to schedule maintenance repairs and research potential changes to housing laws and regulations. Property Managers may receive calls after business hours if one of their rental properties experiences a water leak or another serious problem.

What qualities make a good Property Manager?

A good Property Manager is committed to providing tenants with well-maintained homes or apartments. This quality motivates them to keep a routine maintenance schedule and frequently update properties’ fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. They have a creative mindset that enables them to come up with unique ways to market vacancies in an apartment or housing complex. Further, a good Property Manager has the ability to make difficult decisions. This is important when tenants violate property rules or fail to make rent payments on time.

A good Property Manager also has excellent interpersonal communication that allows them to speak with tenants, Leasing Agents, or Maintenance Workers in a professional manner.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found