How to Reduce Vacancy and Keep Your Property Earning

If your rental has been sitting empty, you’re not alone. Many landlords face the same frustration, weeks (sometimes months) with no rent coming in. Every day your property sits vacant is lost income you’ll never recover.

So why does vacancy drag on for some landlords while others keep their rentals full with minimal gap? Let’s look at the real reasons behind long vacancies and and what you can do today to feel more confident as a landlord.

The Real Cost of Vacancy

Vacancy isn’t just inconvenient, it can be expensive.

• Lost income: Each empty week chips away at your cash flow.

• Added stress: Unqualified enquiries, no-shows, and endless open homes take their toll.

• Pressure to compromise: Dropping rent or offering “free one-week rent” just to get someone in often backfires later.

Why Some Rentals Stay Empty Too Long

Landlords often tell us: “I’ve had plenty of enquiries but no one’s signing up.” The usual culprits?

• Rent set too high → puts tenants off.

• Rent set too low → fast tenant, but long-term loss.

• DIY ads that don’t stand out to your target audience.

• Slow responses to interested parties.

• Property presentations not up to scratch.

• Open homes with tyre-kickers rather than serious applicants.

• Filling vacancies quickly with “any tenant,” which often leads to high turnover.

In short: poor marketing, pricing mistakes, and rushed decisions.

How to Reduce Vacancy in Your Christchurch Rental

Here’s what makes the difference:

1. Tailored Marketing That Stands Out

Understand what your target tenants are looking for in a place they’ll call home. Use photos that highlight the property’s best features, write listings that resonate with them, and ensure wide exposure to attract the right tenants faster. Be prepared to answer questions about the neighbourhood and amenities so tenants can easily imagine themselves living there.

2. Tenant Database and Viewing Waitlist

We keep a database of active tenants and confirm viewing attendance. That means fewer no-shows and more genuine applicants.

3. Serious Applicants Only

We only consider tenants who’ve viewed the property in person. This ensures they know what they’re applying for and reducing mismatched expectations.

4. Thorough Tenant Checks

Strong tenant vetting system can help you secure the best possible tenants who are more likely to stay long-term, giving you stability and consistent income.

5. Accurate Market Pricing

Knowing the Christchurch market inside out helps set the rent at the right level as well as minimising downtime while maximising returns.

The Payoff

When vacancy is handled properly, you’ll see:

• Shorter gaps between tenancies.

• Stable, long-term tenants.

• Consistent income without the need for discounts.

• Less stress for yourself.

  
  

Our secret sauce is tailored marketing, a strong tenant database, and thorough checks. That’s how we fill vacancies fast with the right tenants.

Ready to Fill Your Vacancy?

If your rental has been sitting empty or you’re tired of losing income, we can help. Our tailored approach is designed to help you secure great quality tenants and keep your investment property earning consistently.

Book a free 15-minute consultation today and find out how we can reduce vacancy for your rental in Christchurch.