A record-breaking year
Staircase Property Management’s FYE 2026 in review. After 24 years in the business, our best year yet.
When we founded Staircase back in 2001, we had six people, a 20sqm office and a simple belief: that everyday New Zealanders could build real wealth through property.
Twenty-four years later, that belief has carried us through five governments, a global financial crisis, a pandemic and countless rule changes.
The past year stands apart. By every measure that matters for our tenants and our team, this has been the most successful year in the company’s history.
Here’s what stood out.
More rent paid to owners than ever before
Let’s start with the number that matters most to property investors: rental income.
This financial year, Staircase paid out more rent to property owners than in any previous year across our 24-year history. While much of the market narrative has focused on softening rents and rising vacancies, our portfolio told a different story: rents went up, not down.
In Auckland, we delivered a 0.8% rent increase across our managed portfolio. In Queenstown, that figure reached 9.1%. At a time when many property management companies are reporting flat or declining rents, our owners saw their returns grow.
That’s not luck. It’s the result of proactive rent reviews, quality tenant selection and a focus on minimising vacancy and arrears.
New Zealand’s highest-reviewed (4.9-star) property management company
We’ve always believed that the real measure of a property management company isn’t what it says about itself: it’s what clients say. This year, our clients spoke louder than ever.
We saw our highest-ever engagement for reviews. Across our three offices we now hold a combined 898 Google reviews (Auckland: 779, Tauranga: 87, Queenstown: 32), the highest Google review status of any property management company in New Zealand at 4.9 stars.
Across our Auckland, Tauranga and Queenstown offices, our teams maintained an exceptional 4.9-star rating, a reflection of the care, communication and consistency our property managers deliver every single day.
To every owner and tenant who took the time to leave a review, thank you. You are the reason we keep pushing to be better.
Record growth in Queenstown
Our Queenstown office had a standout year. Since opening in 2019, the team has been steadily building a reputation as the go-to property managers in the region, and this was the year that momentum became undeniable.
We experienced record growth of 24% in Queenstown over the past year. In a market where many operators are contracting, that kind of expansion speaks to the trust local investors are placing in our team and the results we’re delivering for them, including that 9.1% rent increase.
Vacancy and arrears: keeping your investment working
Consistent rental income depends on two things: keeping properties tenanted, and keeping rent flowing. On both fronts, the year’s numbers speak for themselves.
Our Queenstown and Tauranga offices maintained a consistent 0% vacancy rate throughout the year, with every managed property occupied. In Auckland, our vacancy rate sat at under 3%, comfortably below the New Zealand average of around 5%.
Our systems for tenant vetting, proactive communication and early intervention on arrears continue to deliver results that sit well ahead of industry benchmarks.
This year, our Queenstown and Tauranga offices achieved a 0% arrears rate, every dollar of rent collected on time. In Auckland, our arrears rate was just 1.5%, well below the 4% industry average.
When choosing a property manager, it’s worth asking what their vacancy rate and level of arrears are, and how they manage both. Rates at or above the industry norm are a fair signal of how well a business is run.
Record low insurance claims
We’re also proud of a record low number of insurance claims across our portfolio.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of thorough property inspections, proactive maintenance and selecting tenants who treat your property with respect.
Fewer claims mean fewer disruptions, lower costs and better long-term outcomes for property owners.
Overall growth of the rental book
Across all three regions (Auckland, Tauranga and Queenstown), our total portfolio grew by 7.75% year on year. That growth reflects not just new owners joining Staircase, but critically, the retention of existing clients who continue to trust us with their investments year after year.
In an industry where churn is common, our retention rates tell a story about the quality of service our property managers deliver on the ground, every day.
Award-winning service
It’s one thing for your clients to recognise you; it’s another when the wider industry does too. The last year has brought both.
Staircase was named among the top three property management companies in New Zealand in the inaugural Excellence in RTA Healthy Homes Compliance Awards, out of more than 900 property management offices nationwide. That recognition reflects the systems, discipline and genuine care our team brings to ensuring every property we manage meets and exceeds compliance standards. It’s a win for our tenants, our team and the standard of housing in this country.
We were also recognised as the highest-rated property management company in Auckland, holding a 4.9-star Google rating across 793 reviews nationwide, the highest review status of any property management company in New Zealand. In a service industry, there’s no better endorsement than your clients taking the time to say you got it right.
Thank you
None of this happens without three groups of people.
Our tenants, who make our managed properties their homes. We know that great tenants and great property management go hand in hand, and we’re committed to making your rental experience a positive one.
Our team, the property managers, administrators and support crew who show up every day determined to do things properly. This record-breaking year is yours.
Our owners, who trust us with what is often their most significant financial asset. Your confidence in our team is something we never take for granted.
Looking ahead
After 24 years, you might think the hunger would fade. It hasn’t. If anything, the last year has sharpened our focus on what’s next: continuing to grow in the regions that matter, investing in our people and systems, and making sure that every property owner who works with Staircase gets the service and the results they deserve.
If you’re not yet part of the Staircase portfolio, get in touch to find out what we can do for your investment. Get in touch today →
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