We have a property that has been rented for the last 2.5 years. We chose our property management company based on the company owner and director at the time, but he has since left and recently sold the business to a national re company. So we've had numerous pms over this time and they're just getting worse and worse.

We had a huge ongoing issue with plumbing last year that I could have had fixed so much sooner if I didn't have to deal with an incompetent pm. The person looking after us now insisted on only contacting me by email even though I told her we had no email access for over a month, I had to keep calling her to find out what was going on only to have her say "Oh, didn't you get my email?" No! She's contacted me regarding a fallen tree branch, a crack in the wall, and an electrical fault. Each time she's said "So could you please call the tenant to arrange a fix, and call a tree removal person/electrician/whatever." So I've told her no, I don't have time to make all those calls and find people (I could, but that's what we pay her for!). And she goes "Oh, would you like me to?" Yes, I'd like you to do your job thank you!

So anyway, long story short we're considering renting privately. I've found the relevant website for SA with all the info, but it is a *lot* of reading! I've got a few questions but want to get through and see if they're answered there or if any more come up. In the meantime, does anyone rent privately and have any tips or advice?