EOFY Property Management Wrap-Up: Looking Back and Planning Ahead

As another financial year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and look at what’s been happening across the Perth rental market and what property investors should be thinking about as we move into FY26/27.

It’s certainly been another busy year.

We’ve continued to see strong tenant demand, low vacancy rates and plenty of competition for quality rental homes. While media headlines have focused on interest rates, housing shortages and policy changes, the reality we’ve seen on the ground has remained fairly consistent: good rental properties continue to perform well and proactive property management has never been more important.

Over the past 12 months, our team has worked closely with landlords to navigate changing legislation, rising maintenance costs, evolving tenant expectations and a rental market that’s continuing to shift.

So, what have we learnt and what should investors be keeping an eye on moving forward?

The market is still strong , but tenants are more selective

Perth’s rental market has remained incredibly resilient throughout the past year.

Well-presented homes in good locations are still attracting strong enquiry, quality tenants are moving quickly when the right property becomes available and vacancy rates remain extremely tight.

However, one thing we’ve noticed is that tenants are becoming increasingly selective.

With rental prices rising significantly over recent years, tenants understandably expect more value for money. They’re looking for homes that are well-maintained, comfortable to live in and compliant with current standards.

While market conditions have helped many investors achieve excellent returns, the properties achieving the best outcomes are often the ones where owners continue to invest in presentation and upkeep.

The result? Better tenant retention, fewer vacancy periods and stronger long-term performance.

Preventative maintenance pays off

If there’s one message we’d love investors to take into the new financial year, it’s this: don’t wait until something breaks.

Across the board, we’ve seen maintenance costs continue to rise. Reactive maintenance is often far more expensive than addressing issues before they become major problems.

The most successful investors we work with view maintenance as protecting their asset, not another expense. A small repair today can often prevent a much larger bill tomorrow.

EOFY is a great opportunity to review your property’s condition, identify any upcoming maintenance requirements and budget for the year ahead.

Stay compliant

Property legislation continues to evolve and with it comes increased responsibilities for landlords.

From safety requirements to tenancy legislation and compliance obligations, there’s a lot more to keep on top of than there was even a few years ago.

One of our key roles as your property manager is helping you stay ahead of these changes so there are no surprises down the track.

EOFY

For many investors, EOFY means gathering documents, reviewing expenses and preparing for conversations with their accountant.

While that’s obviously important, we encourage our landlords to think of EOFY as an annual health check for their investment property.

It’s a great time to ask questions like:

• Is my property achieving current market rent?
• Are there any maintenance items that should be addressed proactively?
• When was my landlord insurance last reviewed?
• Are there opportunities to improve tenant retention?
• Is my property well-positioned for the next 12 months?

Sometimes the smallest adjustments can make a significant difference to your long-term returns.

What we’re watching in FY26/27 

Looking ahead, we expect housing supply and affordability to remain key talking points across Perth and the broader property sector.

We’re also keeping a close eye on tenancy legislation changes, investor policy discussions and ongoing market conditions that may impact landlords over the coming year.

Regardless of what happens, the fundamentals remain the same:

• Maintain your property.
• Look after good tenants.
• Budget for future expenses.
• Stay compliant.
• Focus on the long term.

Thank you!

As we wrap up another financial year, we’d like to thank all of our landlords for trusting the Yard Property team with your investment properties.

We know there are plenty of moving parts when it comes to property investment and we’re proud to help guide our clients through every stage of the journey.

From all of us at Yard Property, thank you for being part of the Yard community. We look forward to working with you throughout FY26/27 and beyond.