Ruby Housing is a locally owned and operated, independent property management company based at 67 Montreal Street in Sydenham, Christchurch. Managing rentals across the city since 2003, the team brings more than two decades of experience to every property it looks after, with dedicated staff for leasing, inspections and maintenance. Managing Director Kim Willems is a committed property investor and a past president of the Canterbury Property Investor's Association — so the agency is quite literally run by landlords, for landlords.
The company's focus is long-term investors, and the loyalty shows: 22.5% of owners with Ruby Housing hold three or more properties and trust the team with their complete portfolios. That trust is earned through excellent service, outstanding communication and proven reliability. In practice it means actively managing tenants to keep vacancy periods low, thorough screening to place reliable renters who pay on time, and professional management that maximises rental income while minimising costs.
Services include free rental appraisals — often required by banks or mortgage brokers, or useful before buying an investment property — plus a three-step rent review process that keeps rents fair and current without unsettling good tenants. The team also guides owners through transitions such as converting an owner-occupied home into a rental or choosing between a new build and an existing investment. Tenants are looked after too, with advertised rental listings, online viewing bookings and an after-hours line for urgent maintenance.
Walk into the Ruby Housing office on Montreal Street in Sydenham and you're dealing with a company that manages rental property the way its own team invests in it. Ruby Housing is a locally owned and operated, independent property management company that has been looking after Christchurch rentals since 2003. Managing Director Kim Willems is a dedicated property investor in her own right and a past president of the Canterbury Property Investor's Association — a background that shapes how the whole agency thinks about rentals.
The phrase the team uses is simple: we're landlords ourselves, so we understand all the needs of landlords. With more than 20 years managing rentals across Christchurch, Ruby Housing has built its reputation on long-term relationships rather than quick sign-ups. The proof is in the portfolio: 22.5% of the owners who work with Ruby Housing hold three or more properties and entrust the agency with all of them. In an industry where owners move on when trust breaks down, that kind of loyalty comes from ongoing communication, proven reliability and service that holds up year after year.
That investor-first mindset shows up in three promises the company works to. Low vacancy: properties are kept occupied by actively managing tenants and minimising empty periods, so rental income stays consistent. Better tenants: a thorough screening process is designed to place reliable people who look after the home and pay rent on time. Increased ROI: professional management aims to maximise rental income while keeping costs and vacancy days down.
The core of the business is full residential property management, handled by dedicated teams for leasing, inspections and maintenance. For owners weighing up their next move, Ruby Housing offers a free rental appraisal. An appraisal is often required by a bank or mortgage broker to confirm that rental income will cover lending and other costs, and it is equally useful before buying an investment property, when investors want to know the income will stack up against their return-on-investment formula. A full appraisal compares the property against similar homes Ruby Housing manages, factors in the features tenants are currently looking for, and accounts for market conditions — time of year, immigration numbers and employment statistics all move market rents.
Another signature service is the three-step rent review process. Private landlords often leave rent untouched for years, worried about unsettling good tenants. Ruby Housing's process keeps rent fair and aligned with the market while keeping quality tenants in place — a balance self-managing landlords frequently struggle to strike.
Owners also turn to the team at times of transition: moving overseas and converting an owner-occupied home into a rental, deciding between a new build and an existing investment property, or understanding the common fines that catch self-managing landlords out. The company's blog and FAQs expand on these topics, from the 21 things tenants look for in a rental to how to make a rental application stand out.
Renters are not an afterthought. Ruby Housing advertises its rental listings on its website, from two-bedroom homes to five-bedroom family properties, and prospective tenants can book viewings online. Because well-priced homes attract a flood of applications, the team shares practical advice on helping an application rise to the top of the list. Tenants in managed properties also have a dedicated after-hours support line for urgent maintenance issues, so emergencies are not left waiting for the next business day.
Everything about Ruby Housing is deliberately local: a Sydenham office, a Christchurch focus, and a team reachable by phone and email rather than a national call centre. The company is an RPMA accredited member and keeps its systems current with New Zealand privacy compliance requirements. Owners and renters alike can follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Neighbourly, and the website's resource library makes it a genuine hub for Christchurch landlords — whether they hand over the keys or simply want to sharpen their own management.
If you own a rental in Christchurch, or you're about to, Ruby Housing is the kind of independent, investor-led agency the city has been fortunate to have for two decades: small enough to know your property, experienced enough to price, protect and grow it.