After nearly two decades on the frontlines of Australia’s property management industry, Hannah Gill has seen enough – and she’s ready to rewrite the rules.
She’s taking matters into her own hands with Podium Property Management, a new platform designed to give experienced property managers equity in their portfolios, flexible working arrangements, and a clear pathway to building their own business.
“Starting Podium, I have wanted to do this model for a very long time. It’s been in my mind for ages,” Hannah said. “I’ve been observing the industry; I’m well aware on the front line of the challenges we face as property managers. It’s something I’ve always been really passionate about and I am keen to be part of the solution.”
For Hannah, the frustrations that push property managers to leave the industry are all too familiar: high churn, low pay, and few opportunities for growth.
“There’s a 40% churn rate of PMs. We know, they can get paid a lot more money doing different jobs that are far less stressful.
“When I started in property management eighteen years ago, I was given a phone, console manual and a computer, and I was a property manager. And scarily, that’s still very similar in a lot of businesses across Australia,” she says.
Her response was to reimagine the business model entirely, soft launching Podium last week with more than 20 inquiries in its first day.
The why of a new business
Hannah says the idea came partly from frustration with traditional models and partly from opportunity.
“I just had this vision to just try to help fix it. And as luck or not luck would have it, (cutting ties with Will Honey at The Property Collective) you kind of get a whole new direction in life,” she said.
She admits at the time it felt like a setback. “I mean, I feel like at the time, it was the worst thing ever… But now I look back on it, I’m like, what a blessing.”
For anyone thinking of starting a business, Hannah’s advice is grounded in identifying a real problem and the people affected.
“You need to know the pain points, and you need to care enough to fix them. I think the best part of the industry is that it’s full of people who really, really care. But, the biggest challenge is the industry is so transient.”
A new model for PMs
Podium is built around removing key friction points in property management, particularly remuneration and the gap between wanting to become a business owner and having the capital, knowledge, or confidence to do so.
“They don’t need the capital. They’ve got the support, that will help them learn, and the confidence comes with that security of knowing, hey, I’m getting a salary from day one,” Hannah says.
Under the model, property managers start as employees and begin with zero properties on day one. They are supported to build a hyper-local business presence, including marketing, social media, and fee structures tailored to their market.
As they grow, they unlock equity through set milestones linked to the number of properties under management. The structure caps at 200 managements, at which point a property manager can hold up to 30 per cent equity in their portfolio, creating a sellable asset.
Hannah says the intent is to help property managers build a sustainable business and improve outcomes for both clients and practitioners, with strong emphasis on support, training, and reducing burnout in the industry.
Flexibility is central. PMs can work remotely, structure their schedules around personal commitments, and access mentoring from state leaders like Hayley Mitchell in Victoria.
“With any new model, there’s always curiosity, and there’s always that first follower mentality… Let people watch the first few come in and succeed. It builds confidence,” Hannah says.
Training, culture, and support
For Hannah, culture and training are the backbone of retention. Podium has created a 30-module onboarding app called Properly, covering operational processes, cultural alignment, and day-to-day management tasks.
“Culture’s number one for me. So what does it look, sound, and feel like to succeed culturally at Podium? How can you contribute to that? With the right training, people are set up to succeed,” she said.
Monthly webinars, annual conferences, and access to national training programs are also part of Podium’s plan, fostering a high-performing mindset and mentoring network.
“I’m trying to help property managers grow from an employee mindset to a business owner mindset. We’re not looking to need to handhold or micromanage any of these people. It’s just that there is support for them if they need it,” Hannah said.
Lessons for the industry
Hannah believes the PM sector is due for an overhaul.
“Fundamentally, it can be done better. We can give PMs pathways, autonomy, and ownership, and we can improve the experience for everyone involved. That’s the industry I want to see,” she said.
Her broader advice for those starting a new business is simple: understand your sector, listen to its pain points, and don’t be afraid to flip traditional models on their head.
“If you can get 80 property managers in the Podium model succeeding, growing, learning, and all getting to that 200 management mark, which gives them that 30% equity… that’s what success looks like to me,” she said.