“That's what actually got us into our first DHA property… we were motivated by wanting some peace.”
Port Stephens business owners Lisa and Simon Taylor began investing in property with a clear goal: to build a self-funded retirement and create a strong financial foundation for their sons.
What they did not expect was how much time a traditionally managed investment property could demand.
“The first property that we bought was a bit of a nightmare,” Lisa said. “[It felt like] you’re self-managing a property through a real estate agent, even though you’re paying management fees.”
Frequent calls from the managing agent, recurring maintenance issues and unexpected repair bills kept the couple closely involved. For two busy business owners, the experience began to undermine one of the reasons they had invested in the first place: to generate passive income.
“There always seemed to be some extra bit of damage happening to the house, and it was always coming back to us,” Simon said. “We found we were fixing things multiple times. It was a constant little expense, and you’ve got to spend all this extra time chasing it through.
Discovering DHA
The turning point came through the couple’s bank manager, who had spoken to them about his own DHA investment.
“So it was really after this first experience of leasing a property… we actually contacted him and he said, ‘For goodness sake, just contact DHA,’” Lisa said.
Lisa and Simon began researching properties being sold with an existing DHA lease. They went on to purchase their first DHA-leased property mid-lease in 2018, finding an alternative to the traditional property management model they had experienced.
“We thought that would be our opportunity to maintain the investment in our super account and get out of the nightmare wheel we were on, [with] turning over tenants and all the hassles of all the maintenance we seemed to be involved in almost on a weekly basis,” Lisa said.
The difference was soon apparent. Instead of regular calls about day-to-day issues, the couple could devote their attention to their businesses, family and longer-term investment goals.
“You get the notification each month to say that the rent’s been paid… and I don’t normally check it,” Lisa said. “Because it’s just the same thing week in, week out.”
Certainty when the property is vacant
One of the benefits that matters most to Lisa and Simon is the rental income provided under the terms of their DHA lease. Its value became especially clear when one of their DHA properties remained unoccupied for several months.
Despite the vacancy, the couple continued receiving their monthly rental income in accordance with the lease. The experience changed how they assessed the difference between DHA’s service fee and traditional property management fees.
“With our traditional properties, if there’s no tenant in there, there’s no rent,” Lisa said.
“[If] you’ve got an investment property and it’s not tenanted for one month of the year… that’s way more than the difference in the fees charged between DHA and the private sector,” Simon said.
Lisa said investors also needed to consider the maintenance and property care services included under a DHA lease, rather than comparing management fees in isolation.
“They’re all the extra little costs that you probably don’t consider when you’re looking at the difference between the fees,” she said. “In our experience, it’s well worth the extra investment.”
Less day-to-day property management
The couple also values knowing that routine property care and many maintenance matters are handled without requiring their ongoing involvement.
“DHA has its own contractors to do the work, and they do really good work when they repair things,” Simon said. “And then when it is something we need to look after, the process is really easy.”
“You don’t need to go over and water the garden… mow, whipper snip or clean between tenants,” Lisa said. “They take care of those maintenance issues for you.”
For Simon, the reduced involvement and quality Defence member occupant can be summed up simply.
“The most we have to do is maybe drive past the property once in a while, have a look, see the condition of it and say, ‘It’s looking good.’ That’s it.”
Growing the family investment portfolio
Lisa and Simon have continued to include DHA-leased properties in their broader investment strategy. When looking for another property to lease to DHA, they drew on information from DHA’s local Leasing Team about the locations and property types being sought to meet Defence housing requirements.
“DHA provided a local map with highlighted areas of the most desired suburbs,” Lisa said. “We were able to look at that information and start looking at real estate in those areas.”
Their investment journey has also influenced the next generation. Both of their sons now own an investment property, with one also leasing his property to DHA.
“We’re trying to achieve self-funded superannuation when we retire and, ultimately, a good investment for our young men moving forward with their lives,” Simon said.
After experiencing both traditional property management and leasing to DHA, Lisa and Simon have found an approach that supports their long-term goals without requiring them to be involved in every aspect of day-to-day property management.
“It’s an investment in the maintenance and care of your property, in the selection of the tenant, in the rent and in the ease of being able to get on with your life and not worry about it,” Lisa said.
“It’s really a set-and-forget for us, which is heaven.”
You can watch Lisa and Simon’s interview here:
Want to know if a DHA investment could work for you? Contact our Investor Support Team on 133 342 or submit an enquiry(Opens in a new tab/window).
The opinions expressed in this testimonial only reflect the experiences of this investor as at 26 March 2026. DHA does not take into account an investor's objectives or financial needs. Investors should always seek appropriate independent advice before making any investment decisions with DHA.
*Rent may be subject to abatement under certain circumstances such as loss of enjoyment or amenity, or breach of lease terms. Rent is paid where the property is habitable. Should a property become uninhabitable during the term of the lease, or lessor breaches the lease terms, the rent may cease or abate and the lease may be terminated by DHA. Guaranteed rent is subject to the terms of the lease.
Upcoming events
