Local business Home & Co has been named Property Management Company of the Year in the 2023 Leading Property Managers Association (LPMA) Awards.

Home & Co also received the Excellence in Team Culture Award, Industry Educator Award, and Excellence in Business Performance Award, as well as an individual award – Excellence in Administration – for Home & Co team administrator Jeanette Sharpe.

The wins meant a lot to the Home & Co team, director Colleen Topping said.

“The LPMA is an international organisation of property managers from New Zealand, Australia and the United States, so it’s particularly pleasing to be recognised by our peers that our team of five here in Wānaka is doing an outstanding job.”

Home & Co had been operating in Wānaka for 19 years and Colleen said it was always satisfying to be able to help tenants find a rental property.

She pointed to a recent situation where Home & Co was able to help Shashika Jayasinghe and his brother-in-law, both from Sri Lanka, find a long-term rental.

Jeanette and Colleen with tenant Shashika Jayasinghe, who recently secured a long-term rental. 

Both Shashika and his brother-in-law have full-time jobs in Wānaka – Shashika’s role is in hospitality – and have been looking for long-term accommodation for around five months.

Shashika says being able to secure a residential rental means they can bring his sister and her three children from Sri Lanka to join them in their new hometown. 

“We haven’t seen our family for more than a year so I can’t thank everyone at Home & Co enough for helping us find the right property.”

Colleen acknowledged the rental market can be very challenging for tenants.

“We also know how important immigrant workers like Shashika are to our local businesses, so these situations are definitely win-win for the local community.”

The LMPA awards took place on February 24.

Judges highlighted Home & Co’s commitment to sustainability, which they said had never been mentioned by entrants before. 

Colleen said Home & Co considered its carbon footprint after participating in Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) ‘Measure What Matters’ workshop last year.

They now provide education on recycling to new tenants, and provide a reusable coffee cup and Plastic Free Wānaka tote bag with each welcome pack; and in the office have implemented measures like reusable ‘for rent’ signs and new recycling initiatives.

PHOTOS: Supplied