For homeowners

October 2025

Should I manage my own rental property or hire a property manager?

Should you manage your rental or hire an agent? The right choice depends on your time, experience, property, and how much you care about doing it properly. Includes real examples.

Michael Gilbert

Published

October 2025

Can I lock in a long term lease in Victoria without falling behind the market?

Most owners stick with 12-month leases because they worry about falling behind market rent. The truth is, long term leases can actually boost your return. In Victoria, you can legally set yearly rent increases within a fixed term lease, attract renters who pay more for security, and save thousands in vacancy and reletting costs. This guide explains how to structure a 3-year lease the right way, how to keep your rent aligned with the market, and why Cubbi’s new HomeFlex Lease gives you all the upside with none of the risk.

Michael Gilbert

Published

October 2025

Can I increase the rent during a fixed term lease in Victoria?

Rent increases during a fixed term lease in Victoria are only valid if the lease clearly sets out how they will be calculated and if the official notice is served correctly. This guide explains the rules, the best methods to use (percentage vs rent index), how to write the clause into the lease.

Michael Gilbert

Published

September 2025

When can I increase the rent in Victoria?

In Victoria you can only increase rent once every 12 months, giving 60 days notice (90 days from November 2025) and you must use the official form. This guide explains the rules, common mistakes, and the step-by-step process for serving a valid rent increase in Victoria.

Michael Gilbert

Published

September 2025

When Small Issues Snowball in Your Rental Property, Good Tenants Leave

Small issues in a rental don’t stay small. A missed repair here, a slow follow-up there — they stack up until trust breaks and tenants decide to leave. The result? An owner who thought things were under control ends up losing almost a month’s rent in vacancy, letting fees, and disputes. The lesson is simple: resolve issues quickly, build trust from the start, and use a system like Cubbi to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Michael Gilbert

Published

September 2025

Rent bidding in Australia: noise vs reality

Most properties rent at the advertised price. Out of 2,315 applications on the Cubbi platform (Mar 2024 – Aug 2025): 9% offered above (+$44/week on average) 8% offered below (–$108/week on average) 83% applied at the advertised rent 89% of leases were signed at the advertised rent 👉 Rent bidding makes headlines — but in practice, it’s the exception, not the rule. Maybe the problem isn’t the market. Maybe it’s the noise.

Michael Gilbert

Published

September 2025

How to switch property managers without disrupting your tenant

Switching property managers is easier than most owners think. You can do it at any time, even mid-lease, without disrupting your tenant. This guide explains the rules, notice periods, common mistakes to avoid, and exactly what your new agent should collect on switch day. Use our free Management Agreement Checker to confirm your notice period and exit fees.

Michael Gilbert

Published

August 2025

Is my property manager doing a good job?

You don't usually realise you have a bad property manager until it is too late. Everything looks fine because the rent keeps landing in your bank account. A couple of years later the tenant moves out. Bond refunded. You walk through and the place is neglected. Damage everywhere. Deep clean needed. You spend ten thousand on maintenance and cleaning to get the property back to its original condition. On top of that you lose weeks rent in vacancy. The key is to look for the 9 indicators that reveal the truth before it's too late.

Michael Gilbert

Published

June 2024

Introducing AutoPay with instant PayTo payments: Revolutionising Rent Collection

We’ve just launched AutoPay with PayTo, a groundbreaking new way to collect rent that’s instant and hassle-free.

Michael Gilbert