Property management in Australia has been facing challenges for years — tenants feel ignored, landlords are frustrated, and managers are burning out. The question is: is the entire model broken beyond repair?

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Bateman, strategist, innovator, and founder of property management platform Kolmeo, to unpack what’s gone wrong and what the future could look like. Scott brings unique insights from running Australia’s largest property management business, where outdated systems, legislative overload, and high staff turnover made clear that incremental fixes weren’t enough.

We explore why property management has long been treated as a poor cousin to sales, why one in three managers leave the industry within 11 months, and how fragmented tech solutions have created more problems than they solve. Scott also explains how AI and structured processes could standardise quality, reduce burnout, and make renting a dignified experience rather than a second-class one.

Along the way, we tackle the unintended consequences of well-meaning legislation, why institutional investment won’t solve the rental crisis, and whether property managers could evolve into strategic advisors rather than administrators. This conversation isn’t just about real estate — it’s about reimagining an industry at a crossroads.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction: Is Property Management Broken?

01:41 – Why the Current Property Management Model Fails

05:25 – Tech: Part of the Problem or the Solution?

15:52 – Why the Industry Struggles to Embrace Change

17:20 – Market Shifts Reshaping Property Management

19:52 – How Tenant Behavior Is Changing the Market

21:36 – The Future of Property Management Technology

22:22 – Shifting Perspectives on Offshoring and Technology

23:20 – AI and the Promise of Radical Efficiency

25:08 – Challenges in Property Management Compliance

25:59 – Tenant Data, Bias, and the Rental Dilemma

31:26 – Can Property Managers Become Advisors?

36:26 – Balancing the Landlord-Tenant-Manager Triangle

41:42 – Why Scaling Property Management Is So Hard

42:19 – Lessons Learned: Rethinking the Industry

About the Guest

Scott Bateman has firmly cemented himself as one of Australian real estate’s most influential voices on organisational strategy, technology, and innovation. With a career spanning banking, insurance, and property, Scott spent more than a decade at Westpac and IAG before leading the growth and transformation of Australia’s largest property management business.

In 2020, he launched Kolmeo, a game-changing property management platform now embraced by some of the country’s most innovative agencies, including Nelson Alexander, Xceed, Melbourne Real Estate, and Marshall White. Educated at Harvard Business School, Scott blends rigorous academic research with real-world practice, offering a unique perspective on how strategy and technology can reshape industries.

Connect with Scott

• Website (Kolmeo): https://kolmeo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/batemanscott/
• X: https://x.com/batemanscott

Resources

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au
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• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: chrisbates@alcove.com.au 

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Veronica & Chris