Property managers: recover rent arrears and unpaid fees fast

Chasing tenant arrears, property damage claims, or unpaid management fees? A $29 lawyer-backed letter of demand is the fastest first step.

Rent arrears Property damage claims Bond disputes Unpaid management fees

Real estate has specific debt recovery rules

Property managers and landlords face a range of debt types — from simple rent arrears to complex damage claims and disputed bond amounts. NSW tenancy law imposes obligations on both parties, but a formal letter of demand is often the fastest way to prompt payment before escalating to NCAT.

For commercial landlords, a letter of demand combined with a Notice to Remedy Breach is the standard pre-litigation step for most unpaid commercial rent claims.

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1

Enter details

Fill in creditor and debtor details plus the invoice. Takes 5 minutes.

2

Letter sent today

Lawyer-backed PDF generated and emailed to your debtor.

3

Follow-up automated

Day 7 and 14 reminders. Lawyer referral offer at Day 14 if unpaid.

Real Estate & Property debt types we handle

Rent arrears

Residential or commercial tenants behind on rent. Formal demand before NCAT application.

Property damage

Costs to repair damage beyond fair wear and tear. Demand with evidence of repair quotes or invoices.

Unpaid management fees

Fees not paid by landlords to property management agencies under management agreements.

Bond disputes

Disputed bond claims between landlord and tenant. Letter of demand before NCAT bond hearing.

Outgoing unpaid

Tenants who vacated without paying final outgoings. Multiple channel follow-up on Managed tier.

Lease break fees

Tenants who break a fixed-term lease and owe break fee under lease terms.

Real estate — the lowest-risk major sector in Australia

Our 2026 Australian Debt Collection Report ranks Rental, Hiring & Real Estate Services as one of the lowest-risk sectors in Australia by per-business insolvency rate: just 0.73 first-time external administration appointments per 1,000 businesses in FY24-25 — 0.2× the national average of 3.42, and roughly one-twentieth the rate of hospitality. Across 308,127 operating real estate businesses, only 224 entered EXAD in the year.

This tells you something specific: when a real estate B2B debt (commercial rent arrears, agent commission, strata levy, property management fee) goes unpaid, the cause is rarely debtor insolvency. The cause is almost always dispute, delay, or counterparty intransigence — the debtor has the money and is choosing not to pay.

What this means for your collections approach

In an industry with this risk profile, the collections strategy that works is firm, fast, and well-documented. The report's recovery-rate ladder (Section 8) shows that letters of demand resolve 55–70% of debts where internal reminders failed. In real estate, the upper end of that range is realistic because the debtor is overwhelmingly likely to be solvent — what the letter does is convert a stuck item into one the debtor must explain or settle.

For amounts in dispute, the letter creates the documentary record needed for NCAT or court if the matter escalates. Either way, the cost is $29 and the outcome arrives in 7–21 days rather than after a multi-month tribunal queue.

Read the full per-industry breakdown: Section 5 ranks all 19 ANZSIC divisions by per-business insolvency rate. Open the 2026 Australian Debt Collection Report →

Frequently asked questions

Can I send a letter of demand before applying to NCAT?
Yes. NCAT doesn't require a prior letter of demand, but sending one first often resolves the matter without a tribunal hearing — saving you the filing fee and waiting time.
Can I claim interest on unpaid rent?
Commercial leases usually include interest provisions. Residential leases are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act — consult a solicitor for specific advice.
What about the bond?
For residential tenancies, bond disputes are handled by NSW Fair Trading / NCAT. For amounts above the bond, a letter of demand and NCAT claim can run simultaneously.
Can I recover unpaid fees from a landlord?
Yes. Property management fees are a contractual debt. A letter of demand under the management agreement is the appropriate first step.

Recover what you're owed

Send a $29 letter of demand to your tenant or landlord today — takes 5 minutes.

Send $29 letter of demand