While the majority of property managers report satisfaction with their jobs and a good work-life balance, the industry’s struggles are still front and center for its on-site employees, according to a new report from the National Apartment Association.
In a survey of 1,000 multifamily professionals across the U.S., 22% named dealing with abusive or aggressive tenants as their No. 1 challenge working in property management. Mental health and the inability to switch off after hours came in second at 16.3%, followed by maintaining staffing levels at 14%. The top responses are largely unchanged from the last edition of the survey, released in 2022, according to the report.
Top challenges working in property management
| Dealing with abusive and aggressive residents and tenants | 22.0% |
|---|---|
| Mental health and the inability to switch off after hours | 16.3% |
| Maintaining proper staffing levels | 14.3% |
| Managing the workload | 13.2% |
| Working with residents who are at risk of an eviction | 6.9% |
| Keeping up to date with legislation | 6.2% |
| Dealing with fraud | 4.7% |
| Training and onboarding new hires | 4.7% |
| Dealing with aggressive management | 4.1% |
| Other | 4.0% |
| Dealing with the technology | 3.6% |
SOURCE: National Apartment Association
Nearly half of respondents, 47%, say their workload is “on the busy side”, while 24% say their workload is “up and down,” according to the report. Over half report a good work-life balance, while 34% do not.
A large portion of respondents noted an impact on their overall health — 59% on their physical health and 79% on their mental health. Since 2022, mild and moderate mental health impacts have risen by 4%.
“These health concerns may be related to heightened job demands, longer hours and persistent stress,” the report reads. “These insights suggest a need to improve workload management and introduce support systems, such as flexible work arrangements or additional staffing during peak hours to prevent burnout and enhance job satisfaction.”
Most respondents, 83%, reported already feeling satisfied with the company that employs them. Seventy-four percent believe their job is secure, 53% say they are offered internal career opportunities, 86% praise their coworkers and 82% say they are proud to work for their company.
“In terms of job satisfaction, specifically with salary, role flexibility, technology usage and support from management, respondents generally expressed contentment,” said the report. “However, the highest levels of dissatisfaction were related to salary (25%), technology usage by their team (17%) and support from management (17%).”
Demographics of the industry
The vast majority of respondents — 88% — identified as female, and roughly one-third, or 31.6%, were between the ages of 35 and 44. Just over half of respondents worked for companies that managed less than 5,000 units, while one-third worked for companies with 30,000 units or more.
Just over half had been in the industry for seven years or more, and 60% reported being happy with their jobs. Nearly three-fourths expect to still be in the industry in three years, although 39% say they would not recommend a career in property management to a friend or colleague.
“Managing workloads, maintaining proper staffing levels and providing tools and resources that help property managers do their jobs more effectively will go a long way in improving work-life balance,” the report said. “Keeping mental health and wellness as a top priority by providing training and support may help turn detractors into promoters. Finally, transparency … will be key as the industry continues to embrace technology.
