Example Interview Questions

- Senior Property Management position

These are just some examples of questions that could be asked when
interviewing potential employees for your property management department
besides checking the usual employment history including reference checks.
Please remembers the laws and requirements for property management staff
differ from state to state:

− Have they conducted end of period processing?

− How many times - did they have assistance or did they process it alone?
− What are the 5 main steps that need to be carried out prior to conducting end of
period processing?
− What is a Trial balance? Why is this important?
− What form do you issue if you want to breach a tenant for non-payment of rent?
− What form do you issue if tenant did not pay rent following receipt of Breach
Notice?
− Do you understand what risk management means & can you give me 2 examples
in property management?
− If an Owner wants to terminate an expired Management Authority how much
notice must he give the Agent?
− If Owner wants to attend property to undertake maintenance, under the ACT how
much notice must be given to the tenant?
− A property you manage is listed for sale, what is the sales reps/owners right to
show the property to prospective buyers as outlined in the Residential Tenancies
Act?
− If you want to increase a tenants rent how much notice is required to be given to
the tenant?
− Under what circumstances can a tenants Bond held be increased?
− If a tenant pays electronically, do you have to issue them a receipt?
− If a prospective tenant views the property and sees it has TV points, moves in &
finds there are points but no TV antenna, is the Owner required to install a TV
antenna?
− If current tenant is vacating, what right does Owner/Agent have to show property
to prospective buyers according to the ACT?
− What is the penalty under the ACT to a tenant who withholds rent with the intent
of it being deducted from their Bond?
− What does Duty of Mitigation mean?
− If Owner sells property and a periodical tenant is in place, what period of notice is
required to be given to tenant to vacate if contract is not unconditional and what
form would you use?
− Have you attended Court/a Tenancy Tribunal hearing before for a residential
tenancy matter? Please explain the details of the hearing and the outcome.
− What Court form would you use if you wanted to apply to terminate a tenancy,
apply for tenants Bond be released to Owner & seek possession of the property?
− What Court form would you use if you wanted to apply to terminate tenancy and
apply for Bond to be released to Owner?
− Can you ask a new tenant when paying the initial move in costs to pay more than
two weeks rent?
− If tenant has two pets, how much Pet Bond can you request they pay?
− What areas, if any, do you feel you would like more training or support in?
− Describe how you feel you deal with difficult landlords and tenants?
− How often would you personally normally conduct a periodical inspection?
− Check knowledge of using REST/Console/relevant software package your office
uses.
− If responsible for trust accounting – how often do they do a bank reconciliation?
− Thinking back, what was the last mistake you made in property management and
how did you correct it?
− What is your most favourite and least favourite part of property management and
it’s functions?
− What do you think your employer/last employer would say about you and your
ability? Including your attention to detail and computer skills?