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Home › Property Management › Property Management Fees › Canberra, ACT
A letting fee and a management fee are the two main costs associated with leasing property in Canberra. The letting fee is payable to the agent for sourcing a new tenant at the beginning of the lease. In Canberra and throughout the ACT this is usually 1-2 weeks rent.
The management fee is generally a percentage of the weekly rent, payable for the ongoing management of the lease, and in Canberra is approximately 6-8% . Slightly higher fees should be expected in regional ACT. Fees may be payable for additional services such as monthly/annual statements and representation at tribunal so be sure to ask for a full list of possible costs to avoid any unexpected charges.
Need an explanation on fees? We’ve updated our property management fees guide to include important data about the fees you may encounter and how they might be structured.
Key Takeaways: Canberra property managers usually charge a letting fee (1–2 weeks’ rent) and a management fee (6–8%). Additional costs may apply for advertising, statements, inspections, or tribunal appearances. Fees in regional ACT are often slightly higher due to smaller markets. With Canberra’s high rental prices, annual management costs can exceed $3,000. Always ask for a full breakdown of fees before signing an agreement.
Key Takeaways:
Below you will find our Property Management Fees Calculator. Input the individual costs to uncover the annual property management fees you can expect to incur. The costs listed below are not a comprehensive list. Before appointing your Property Manager be sure to ask them for a full list of possible additional charges and allow for this is in the field marked ‘other’. This can include such things as annual statement fees, routine inspection fees, advertising fees etc.
Bear in mind, you will also have other costs associated with insurance and possible repairs and maintenance to your property.
Property management fees can vary depending on where your property is located, and much of that comes down to how the Canberra property market works compared to smaller regional towns in the ACT.
In Canberra, there are many property management agencies competing for business. This competition helps to keep management fees in the typical 6–8% range. Larger agencies can also spread their costs (like office staff, advertising, and software) across hundreds of properties, which allows them to keep fees consistent.
In contrast, regional ACT towns such as Yass, Murrumbateman, or Bungendore usually have fewer rental properties and fewer agencies. Because of this, property managers in these areas often charge slightly higher fees, sometimes 8–10%. They may also need to travel longer distances for inspections, which adds to their time and costs.
Another factor is tenant turnover. Canberra, being home to universities, government departments, and defence housing, often sees higher turnover. This means letting fees are more common but also easier to spread across a larger pool of tenants. In regional areas, tenants may stay longer, but finding replacements when they leave can be harder and this difficulty is reflected in higher fees.
Think of it like buying groceries: in Canberra, you have multiple supermarkets competing, so prices stay competitive. In a small town with only one shop, you may have to pay a little more for the same basket. The same principle applies to property management fees.
Weekly Rent – Median rent in Canberra for 2025 is about $680/week for houses and $570/week for units
Letting Fee – A fee collected by the property manager in return for sourcing a new tenant for your property. In Canberra and the rest of the ACT, this is generally equivalent to 1-2 weeks rent.
Management Fee – Ongoing cost of managing your property paid to the property manager, and is usually expressed as a percentage of the rent. In TAS, the fee can range between 6-8%, depending on the location and style of property. You can use the interactive map above to find an average management fee for your suburb.
Other Fees – This covers all other fees that you and/or your property manager may encounter while looking after the property and tenants. This may include annual statement fees, inspection fees, advertising fees and more.
Annual Management Fees – For a property renting at $680/week, expect to pay around $2,100–$2,800 per year.
Total Annual Fees – These are your total fees for an entire year’s worth of property management, including the management fees, letting fees and any other fees you may encounter. It assumes that the letting fee and other fees are incurred annually, but your tenants may stay for a number of years. This would save you from paying multiple letting fees or advertising costs.
It’s tempting to think of property management fees as just another bill, but they have a direct impact on your investment returns. Even a small difference can add up to hundreds of dollars each year. For example, on a $650/week property, the difference between a 6% and 8% fee is about $676 per year. That’s money you could use for maintenance, insurance, or simply adding to your profit.
But fees aren’t just about cost. They are closely tied to the level of service you receive. A cheaper property manager may look attractive, but if they fail to find quality tenants quickly or don’t manage repairs properly, you could lose far more than you save. On the other hand, the highest-priced manager isn’t always the best either, what matters is value for money.
Understanding the different fees also helps you ask the right questions upfront. For instance:
Having a clear understanding of fees helps you ask better questions before signing with an agent. You’ll know whether advertising is included in the letting fee, whether inspection costs are extra, and what you’d be charged if your property ended up in tribunal. When you can compare agencies on equal terms, it’s much easier to make a confident choice.
This is especially important given how strong the Australia property market has been in recent years. With rents at record highs in many cities, investors in Canberra are handling some of the highest rental incomes in the country. That makes it even more important to make sure your property manager’s fees don’t eat too heavily into your returns.
Yes. According to the ATO, property management fees are a tax-deductible expense for rental property owners.
You may be charged a tribunal representation fee. Ask your agent about this upfront.
Not always. Look for transparency, communication, and local market knowledge over price alone.
They’re slightly lower than Sydney but higher than Hobart or Adelaide, mainly because of strong rental demand.
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