Te Toi Mahana becomes first residential landlord in Australia and New Zealand

Te Toi Mahana has become the first residential landlord in Australia and New Zealand to achieve RICS regulated status with RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

The registration is a significant first for the region’s housing sector. It places Te Toi Mahana under the independent oversight of one of the world’s largest and most respected professional bodies for land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Founded in London in 1868 and granted a Royal Charter in 1881, RICS has a history spanning more than 150 years. It sets standards for more than 140,000 members and candidates working across more than 140 countries. RICS independently regulates chartered professionals and registered firms to build trust and confidence among clients, consumers and the wider public.

RICS regulated status is well established internationally, but Te Toi Mahana is the first residential landlord in Australia and New Zealand to make this commitment at an organisational level.

Jonathan Manns, Chief Executive at Te Toi Mahana said the registration reflected the responsibilities that come with managing people’s homes and significant public investment.

‘This is a major milestone for both Te Toi Mahana and for the housing sector across Australia and New Zealand.

‘RICS is a global institution with more than 150 years of history and a presence in over 140 countries. Becoming the first residential landlord in Australia and New Zealand to be regulated places Te Toi Mahana within the gold standard of global standards, ethics and accountability.

‘Residential landlords are entrusted with people’s homes. In our case, we are also responsible for public investment and long-term community outcomes. This voluntary step puts Te Toi Mahana under additional, independent oversight, reinforcing our belief that these responsibilities should be matched by the highest professional standards.’

RICS regulated status is more than membership of a professional body. It places additional requirements on Te Toi Mahana as an organisation. RICS-regulated firms must comply with mandatory professional standards and Rules of Conduct. These require firms to act honestly and with integrity, maintain professional competence, provide good-quality and diligent services, take responsibility for their actions, prevent harm and act in the public interest. RICS also undertakes monitoring and assurance activity. It can receive and investigate concerns about regulated firms and take disciplinary action in serious cases. Regulated firms must maintain a formal complaints-handling procedure and provide access to an approved form of alternative dispute resolution.

‘Independent oversight matters because it strengthens accountability,’ Jonathan Manns said.

‘This gives tenants, partners, funders and the wider community even greater confidence that Te Toi Mahana is operating transparently, managing risk appropriately and delivering internationally recognised best practice.

‘Professional standards matter because they build trust. By becoming RICS-regulated, we are making a clear and public commitment to ethics, competence, service quality, and continuous improvement.’

RICS Market Development Manager for New Zealand, Michelle Manley, said the registration demonstrated significant leadership by Te Toi Mahana.  

‘Becoming the first RICS-regulated residential landlord in Australia and New Zealand is a major achievement. Te Toi Mahana is showing genuine leadership and setting a new regional benchmark for professionalism, accountability and public-interest regulation across the housing sector.

‘This is not simply about joining a professional network. Te Toi Mahana is voluntarily placing the organisation within a global system of standards, assurance and accountability developed over more than 150 years.

‘That is testament to the quality, capability and culture Te Toi Mahana has built. It demonstrates a clear commitment to ethical practice, continuous improvement and delivering high-quality services in the public interest.’

The RICS regulated status builds on Te Toi Mahana’s success at the 2026 New Zealand RICS Awards, where Chief Executive Jonathan Manns was named Property Professional of the Year.

The award recognises outstanding professional achievement, the highest professional ethics and the use of recognised standards in day-to-day practice. Judges said Jonathan Manns had demonstrated how purposeful property leadership could deliver stronger commercial performance alongside meaningful public value. They highlighted improved housing availability, reduced vacancy time and cost, strengthened governance and organisational capability, new affordable housing, and the embedding of professional standards, cultural partnership and long-term stewardship across Te Toi Mahana and the wider community housing sector.  

‘We are exceptionally proud to be the first residential landlord in Australia and New Zealand to achieve this,‘ Jonathan Manns said.

‘The wider significance lies in the standard it sets and the opportunity to drive a further step-change in professionalism, accountability and stewardship across New Zealand’s housing sector.

‘Our ambition is not simply to meet and exceed these standards ourselves. It is to demonstrate what is possible, raise expectations and encourage others to strengthen their own practice. Ultimately, this is about building a stronger and more trusted housing sector that delivers better outcomes for people and whānau across the motu.’