If you’ve ever agreed to take over an existing lease — only to later regret it — you’re not alone. During our latest 🎙 Inner Circle LIVE, we unpacked this all-too-common scenario and shared practical steps you can take to protect yourself, your agency, and your sanity.

From overlooked arrears to missing inspection reports, taking over someone else’s mess can leave you exposed and working harder than you ever expected. The key is due diligence — and we shared a clear checklist and real-world examples to guide you through the process.

Why This Topic Matters

On the surface,taking over an existing lease seems like a win: no need to find a tenant, rent flowing from day one, and a new landlord client to impress. But hidden beneath the surface can be serious risks — risks you inherit the second you accept that mandate.

One Inner Circle member recently reached out with a nightmare case where, due to lack of proper checks, they were left managing a tenant in arrears, battling an eviction, and dealing with a landlord and previous agent who’d all but washed their hands of responsibility. This is not uncommon — and it’s preventable!

Red Flags to Watch Out For

We explored a number of red flags you must check before agreeing to take over an existing lease. A few of the key questions we discussed:

✅ Is there a properly documented ingoing inspection report — with photos?

✅ Is there a signed, enforceable lease agreement — and does it meet legal requirements?

✅ Has the tenant’s deposit been properly managed and accounted for?

✅ Are the tenant’s accounts (including utilities) fully up to date?

✅ Are the landlord’s municipal and body corporate accounts up to date?

And, perhaps most importantly: why is the landlord leaving their current agent? Sometimes the answer says more than the paperwork ever could.

Learnings From Real-Life Cases

Our members also shared their own experiences — like the team who inherited a 30-property portfolio only to discover years of deferred maintenance and tenants expecting the “new agents” to fix everything overnight. Or the member who took over a lease, only to realise no ingoing inspection report was available, leaving them powerless to claim damages.

As Shaun reminded everyone: “Not all business is good business — and sometimes, it’s better to say no.”

Want the lease takeover checklist?

During the session, we shared a full due diligence checklist, covering everything from verifying lease terms to inserting special conditions in your mandate to protect your agency if things go south. We even discussed how to diplomatically decline a takeover if the risks outweigh the rewards.

This checklist — along with the recording of the session — is now available exclusively to Inner Circle members.

Don’t Inherit Someone Else’s Problems

Before you agree to manage a lease mid-term, arm yourself with the knowledge and tools to make an informed decision. Done right, these handovers can be a great way to grow your rent roll. Done wrong, they can drain your resources and tarnish your reputation.

If you found this topic useful, imagine having access to expert-led, members-only webinars like this twice every month, along with exclusive tools, checklists, and support from South Africa’s #1 residential rental training provider.