Chris Casado, Casado Property Management · RE/MAX Heights Realty
If you're thinking about hiring a property manager, the first question is usually the simplest one: what will it cost? The honest answer is that the headline percentage is only part of the picture. What the fee is charged on, what's included, and what gets billed on top all matter just as much.
This guide explains how property management pricing usually works in the Lower Mainland, shows exactly what Casado charges with worked examples, and gives you a checklist of questions to ask any manager before you sign.
Want a quick number for your own property? Our free Rental Income Calculator estimates your monthly rent and shows what management would cost, in about a minute.
The two fees most owners pay
Most full-service property management in BC comes down to two charges.
1. A monthly management fee. This is usually a percentage of rent. It pays for the ongoing work: collecting rent, coordinating repairs, dealing with tenants, inspections, paperwork and owner reporting.
2. A tenant placement (leasing) fee. This is charged when the manager finds you a new tenant. It covers pricing, marketing, showings, screening, the tenancy agreement and the move-in inspection. It's often quoted as a portion of one month's rent.
Some owners only want the second service. They want help finding a good tenant and will manage the tenancy themselves. That's usually priced as a one-time placement fee.
What Casado charges
We publish our pricing so owners can compare without a sales call.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Full management | 7% of rent collected + GST |
| While your unit is vacant | No management fee (no rent collected, no fee) |
| New tenant placement (full-management clients) | Half a month's rent + GST per new tenant |
| Tenant replacement within the first 12 months (full management) | No placement fee, subject to your management agreement |
| Tenant placement only | Half a month's rent or $1,500, whichever is greater, + GST |
A few details matter here:
"Rent collected," not "rent due." If a tenant doesn't pay, we don't charge a management fee on money you never received.
If a tenant breaks their lease, the tenant who broke it is charged the placement cost instead of you.
Repairs are passed through at cost. Trade invoices have no markup, and we ask for your approval before any repair over $250 per item. Emergencies are handled right away.
Costs billed at cost: advertising and credit checks are billed to you at cost and shown on your statement.
Non-resident owners: NR4/NR6 filing is $250 + GST a year.
Full details are on our fees page.
Worked examples
GST in BC is 5%. Here's what the numbers look like for two typical rents.
A $2,800/month condo in Burnaby
Management fee: 7% × $2,800 = $196.00, plus $9.80 GST = $205.80 a month.
Over 12 months: $2,469.60 including GST
Placing a new tenant under full management: half a month's rent = $1,400, plus $70 GST = $1,470.
Tenant placement only: the greater of $1,400 or $1,500 = $1,500, plus $75 GST = $1,575.
A $3,600/month townhouse or house with a suite in Vancouver
Management fee: 7% × $3,600 = $252.00, plus $12.60 GST = $264.60 a month.
Over 12 months: $3,175.20 including GST
Placing a new tenant under full management: $1,800, plus $90 GST = $1,890.
Tenant placement only: $1,800, plus $90 GST = $1,890.
If the unit sits empty for a month between tenants, the management fee that month is $0.
What 7% includes
The management fee should buy you real work, not just rent collection. With Casado, full management includes:
Tenant placement and screening: credit checks, employment and income verification, previous landlord references, government-issued ID, supporting financial documents when necessary, and a review of each application
Rental advertising and marketing on MLS/REW, Facebook Marketplace and other appropriate online rental platforms, with professional photography
Rent collection and financial reporting, with electronic owner payments and a Buildium online owner portal
Maintenance and repair coordination, with 24/7 emergency contact through your property manager and our licensed assistants
Move-in and move-out condition inspections, plus an annual routine inspection as standard
Tenancy agreement preparation, tenant communication and Residential Tenancy Act compliance
Help with city rental licensing requirements and applications
Owner communication and reporting
We also assist owners with Residential Tenancy Branch disputes, documentation and hearing preparation.
Questions to ask any property manager before you sign
Percentages are easy to compare. These details are where the real differences show up:
Is the fee charged on rent collected or rent due? And is there any fee while the unit is vacant?
What's the placement fee, and when is it charged? Every new tenant, or only the first? Is there a replacement guarantee if a tenant leaves early?
Are there renewal, setup or minimum monthly fees? Ask for the complete fee schedule in writing.
Are repair invoices marked up? Does the manager take referral fees from trades?
What's the spending limit without your approval, and how are emergencies handled?
How often is the property inspected?
What's the term, and how do you cancel? Our agreement runs 12 months and renews automatically. Either party can end it with 60 days' written notice. A $500 cancellation fee applies only if you cancel in the first 3 months, and it's waived if we haven't rented your unit by then.
Is the manager licensed? In BC, rental property management must be done through a brokerage licensed by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). You can check a licence on BCFSA's website.
Where are deposits held? Security and pet deposits we collect are held in the RE/MAX Heights Realty trust account.
Is property management tax-deductible?
For most landlords, yes. The Canada Revenue Agency lets you deduct amounts paid to a person or company to manage your rental property, including amounts paid to agents for collecting rent or finding new tenants, as rental expenses (Form T776, line 8871). Speak with your accountant about your own situation.
Is it worth it?
It depends on your time, how far you live from the property, and how comfortable you are with BC's tenancy rules. A manager earns their fee by pricing the rental correctly, choosing a reliable tenant, keeping the property in good repair and keeping you compliant with the Residential Tenancy Act and city bylaws. In Vancouver, that includes the Empty Homes Tax declaration and the City's rental business licence.
Casado Property Management manages condos, townhouses, detached homes, duplexes, basement suites and multi-unit buildings across Burnaby, Vancouver, Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster, the North Shore, Surrey and Langley. We're rated 5.0 on Google from 71 reviews (as of Nov 5, 2026).
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Casado Property Management · RE/MAX Heights Realty. Your property, our priority.