Rental Management Australia (RMA) digitises property management with MRI Software to help relieve peak rental market pressure

Lower housing supply pushing rents up, biggest % increase in Perth, says MRI

PERTH, Australia, Nov. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rental Management Australia (RMA) has now implemented AI-led PropTech from MRI Software to digitise many of its property management services and improve efficiencies. The largest residential asset manager in Western Australia, with offices also in Victoria and Queensland, RMA is rolling out MRI PropertyTree and MRI Maintenance Plus to keep ahead of record demand for rental properties.

Josh Symons, Real Estate Industry Principal for MRI Software in Australia.

RMA went live on PropertyTree and Maintenance Plus nationally from 1 September 2021 with all 80 RMA staff now trained and actively working in the platform to process and manage all financial transactions and invoicing, lease renewals and rent reviews, and connect tenant requests for maintenance with local contractors, among other things. The mobile-based MRI PropTech platform is being introduced to landlords, owners and contractors as part of a phase two roll-out later this year or early next.

Transferring many thousands of property and tenancy records and associated financial data "securely and smoothly" into the cloud-based MRI platform was a top priority for RMA's Chief Financial Officer, Chris Weise (pictured).

"More than 30 percent of our tenants are under 30. They've grown up with technology, where many landlords are older and less digitally dependent or proficient and prefer to pick up the phone and have a conversation. So, with our industry-best people, and now the best PropTech from MRI, RMA can continue providing the best residential asset management services well into the future via whatever medium suits our clients' best.

"The fact MRI is a global leader in real estate software with all the governance and experience that comes with that gave us 100% confidence trusting them with managing our data transfer securely from a previous software provider. It was done seamlessly," Weise said.

Andrew Graham, CEO for Rental Management Australia, said: "At RMA our sole focus is on property management for which we've been entrusted with over $4 billion worth of residential assets. The decision to integrate world-class property-technology from MRI matches our intent to make people-centric property management our absolute priority. MRI solutions are uber-friendly to use, and we wanted an advanced experience," he said.

That goal was achieved: more than 80 RMA staff were up and running on MRI Property Tree and MRI Maintenance Plus in just over a month from decision time to actively using the platform. The software gives RMA property managers more time to focus on the human interactions that make a meaningful difference to landlords, tenants and contractors during these unprecedented times.

Stress from record 18.4% hike in Perth weekly rent since pre-COVID

Exclusive MRI Software rental transaction data indicates Perth experienced the highest percentage increase in median weekly rent prices across houses and apartments of any urban residential region in Australia since before COVID hit – meaning the demand pressure across all property types is uniquely high for Perth-based property managers, like RMA.

MRI Property Tree™ tracks real-time transactions made by most real estate agencies across Australia, now including RMA. MRI's national rental property data shows a distinct two-speed market trend emerged through COVID since January 2020 to now, where demand for houses went up, along with rent prices, while apartment demand and prices went down to almost the same degree, causing a net zero effect for most states and territories.

This trend is notably different in Perth, according to Josh Symons, Residential Real Estate Industry Principal for MRI Software in Australia, where MRI data shows rent prices for houses and apartments went up a record 18.4 percent (houses up 17 percentage points and apartments 14) from a median $380 per week in January 2020 to $450 per week by the end of September 2021.

"The human experience behind those numbers are more anxious landlords and property owners, and more tenants under financial and emotional stress expecting top-quality property management service and facilities for the unseasonably high rental prices they're paying. RMA came to us seeking PropTech solutions to help measurably improve that reality for their staff and clients," Symons said.

About MRI Software

MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI's comprehensive, flexible, open and connected platform empowers owners, operators and occupiers in commercial and residential property organizations to innovate in rapidly changing markets. MRI has been a trailblazer in the PropTech industry for over five decades, serving more than two million users worldwide. Through leading solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to elevate their business and gain a competitive edge. MRI became one of the first real estate software providers to serve Australia and New Zealand in 1995 and further strengthened its commitment to the region with the acquisitions of Rockend, WhosOnLocation and Palace. For more information, visit mrisoftware.com/au

Media ContactFor more information, to arrange an interview or any high-res photography please contact:

Heather Jones | PR Director for MRI Software (Australia & NZ) | 0400 394 669 | heather@hjconsulting.com.au

Rental Management Australia (RMA) is taking Artificial Intelligence in rental property management seriously, pictured Andrew Graham, CEO (L) & Chris Wiese, CFO (R) at RMA which has offices in WA, QLD and VIC.

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