DHA’s leasing program is constantly evolving to deliver the best results for our landlords and the Defence members living in our homes. Our Myth Buster Series aims to clarify any potential myths you may have heard about investing with DHA and provide accurate information.
Myth: When you lease a property to DHA, you still need a real estate agent to manage it.
Fact: DHA is your tenant and your property manager, so you won’t need another agent.
Ask most investors how their rental property is managed and the answer is likely to be the same. They hire a real estate agent, find a tenant, sign an agency agreement and pay various fees and charges as they arise. It is the default model for residential investment in Australia.
When you lease to DHA, the default model doesn’t apply because there is no vacancy to advertise, no tenant to screen and no condition report to negotiate when an occupant moves out. Our in-house property team handles this process end to end, from finding a Defence member occupant to administering the lease and organising repairs.
What you pay and what you don’t
Traditional property management typically uses a layered fee structure. The basic management fee might look quite low but add the extra costs of letting, advertising, lease preparation and routine inspections and the total expense can be very different.
In contrast, DHA charges a single service fee that covers the day-to-day management as well as most non-structural repairs.1 This includes:
- Routine repairs such as leaky plumbing and the replacement of fixed appliances
- End-of-lease repairs and cleaning
- Grounds maintenance
- Vacancy costs: rent is paid on time, in advance, even if the property is empty
- No letting or advertising fees.
Independent analysis by Oxford Economics Australia found that, in most cases, the cost of a DHA lease is lower than traditional property management once all charges are taken into account. Compare the results in the 2025 Property Management Fee Comparison Report.
When it’s time to sell
Selling a property and managing one are different jobs. If you decide to sell your property with a DHA lease in place, it is normal to appoint a sales agent to handle the transaction. The lease transfers to the new owner as part of the sale. The income keeps flowing and the Defence member living there is not disrupted. DHA continues to manage the tenancy until the lease ends, regardless of who holds title to the property.
More than 12,000 investors across Australia already have their properties managed this way. To find out if yours could be one of them, call our Investor Support team on 133 342 or submit an application(Opens in a new tab/window).
1. A comprehensive description of repairs included in our service and exclusions can be found in the Property Care Contract. For more information, please visit https://www.dha.gov.au/investing/property-care.
Upcoming events
