Unresponsive Property Manager

[Jackie Liu]

Hello BP member, I have a friend who currently owns several SFH rentals that is currently managed by a PM in Indiana, according to them the PM has been unresponsive for 3 months, all their attempts to reach the PM has been uneventful (phone, message, etc.). The PM has also not sent them the rent money from the past 3 months. They also are thinking of getting a different PM to manage it after they can gain back control but would like advice on doing so. If anyone who is knowledgeable, please chime in so I can relay such information to my friend so they can have proper step to follow. As far as their relation with the PM goes, the PM is the agent they used when buying the said rental, agent is local to Indianapolis, as for any form of PM agreement I do not know, it may be verbal, or they have a written agreement.

Thanks in advance.

[Phillip Austin]

Quote from @Adam Bartomeo:

One of the worst mistakes you can make is hire an agent to do PM. Did they check to obituaries? I would send someone to the office and the properties - I am assuming you do not have the tenants contact info. To wait 3 months before acting is crazy!

 Agreed. Agents who generally take on small portfolios to manage are only doing so because they're not great agents to begin with.

First thing first, I would consider either driving by the properties or contacting the tenants and asking them if they know what's going on with the agent. Their tenants may be able to tell them what's going on.

I would follow that up with a visit to the agent's office. Then notify the real estate commission and file a complaint.