Almost a year ago, Victor made the decision to merge his independent agency with ours — bringing over a decade of experience across residential, commercial, and investment property into our team. Now in his role as Business Development Manager, he applies his entrepreneurial mindset and in-depth knowledge of legislation to help landlords protect and grow their portfolios. We sat down with Victor to learn more about his journey, what drives his success, and how he’s making a difference for property owners every day.
After running my own agency for 14 years, I was looking for a larger network with strong brand recognition, advanced systems, and a professional culture. LJ Hooker Property Partners offered all of that, along with values that aligned with my commitment to service and results.
The people and the culture. Everyone here genuinely cares about doing the best for our clients, and there’s a collaborative spirit where we share ideas and solutions to achieve better outcomes.
It’s dynamic and rewarding. Every day brings new conversations with landlords, tenants, and contractors. My role focuses on helping property owners grow and protect their investments, and I love that I get to combine market knowledge, legislative expertise, and client service in everything I do.
The depth of experience and the professionalism. Everyone stays current with legislation changes. We also support each other, which helps us provide consistently high service to our landlords and tenants.
I have a unique perspective from running my own agency for 14 years and being hands-on across sales, rentals, and commercial property. This gives me the ability to anticipate issues before they arise, provide tailored investment advice, and focus on protecting landlords from hidden risks — not just finding tenants.
My days usually include property inspections and rental appraisals, preparing management proposals, speaking with new landlords, and coordinating with our property management team on leasing campaigns and compliance. I also work closely with our sales team — helping them with rental estimates, investor enquiries, and ensuring a smooth transition for buyers who plan to lease out their new properties. On top of that, I keep up to date with legislative changes and market trends so I can give clients the best advice.
It’s straightforward and fully digital. After our initial discussion and appraisal, I prepare a management proposal tailored to the property. Once the landlord is ready to proceed, I send a digital management agreement for signing via digital platform. From there, we handle everything: issuing termination to the previous agency if needed, organising compliance items (like water and smoke alarm certificates), marketing, and preparing the entry condition report, etc.
Even with many years of experience, working within a larger brand like LJ Hooker Property Partners has taught me how powerful collaboration and structured processes can be. It’s also reinforced how quickly legislation and market conditions can change, so staying proactive is essential.
Successfully growing the rent roll by building strong relationships with both new and existing clients, and helping landlords navigate complex situations — like rooming accommodation compliance and recent legislation changes on rent increases — to protect their interests. I’ve also started to build a commercial property portfolio for LJ Hooker Property Partners, opening opportunities to expand our services into commercial and industrial property management and leasing.
My background in running my own agency means I’ve dealt personally with almost every scenario that can arise in property management, from tribunal hearings to large-scale renovations. I draw on this experience daily to provide practical, tailored solutions and to communicate clearly with landlords about their options and obligations.
Seeing how relieved landlords feel when we solve a complex issue for them, or when we secure a tenant quickly at a strong rental price. Also, collaborating with colleagues who bring a mix of energy and expertise to the office. Another highlight has been receiving many positive Google reviews from happy clients — it’s very rewarding to see my service recognised publicly.
To continue growing our rent roll sustainably, help more landlords protect and grow their investments, and keep deepening my expertise in areas like commercial property management and changing legislation.
Focus on people first. Listen carefully, be transparent, and build trust. Real estate is a relationship business — if you care about helping people, the results will follow. And always keep learning, because the industry never stands still.
Victor Lai is more than just a property professional — he’s a strategic partner who combines hands-on experience, tailored advice, and genuine care to deliver exceptional outcomes for his clients. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, Victor and our expert property management team are here to help you maximise your returns and move forward with confidence.
Contact Victor today to find out how we can support your investment goals.