How Healthy Is Your PG: A 10-Question Self-Assessment
Most PG owners know when something is wrong. A tenant complains loudly, rent doesn't arrive, a bed stays empty for weeks. What's harder to see are the slow problems: the habits that work today but won't survive growth, or the gaps nobody has noticed yet. This quick self-assessment helps you check ten areas of your PG in about five minutes. It's honest, private, and free.
Please read this first: this is a self-check, not a benchmark. The questions and score bands come from common PG management practice, not from industry data, so use them as a conversation with yourself, not as a verdict.
How to Score Yourself
For each question, choose the answer that best describes your PG today, not how you'd like it to be. Score 2 for the first answer, 1 for the second, and 0 for the third. Write your scores down, then add them up at the end. The total is out of 20.
The 10 Questions
1. Rent Collection
| 2 | Reminders go out on schedule, and most tenants pay on time without me chasing |
| 1 | I send reminders myself, and I chase a few tenants each month |
| 0 | Late payments are routine, and I often lose track of who has paid |
If you scored low: make rent hard to forget and easy to pay. MyPG supports both automatic and manual rent reminders.
2. Complaint Response
| 2 | Every complaint is logged, assigned to someone, and closed, usually within a day or two |
| 1 | Most get fixed, but some depend on someone remembering |
| 0 | Complaints get lost in chats, and tenants often have to repeat themselves |
If you scored low: use one tracked process. In MyPG, you can check, assign, answer, and resolve complaints in the application.
3. Occupancy and Inquiries
| 2 | My beds are mostly full, and I reply to new inquiries the same day |
| 1 | Occupancy is decent, but inquiries sometimes wait a day or more |
| 0 | Beds stay empty for weeks, and I miss or forget some inquiries |
If you scored low: speed matters. In MyPG, you can review new inquiries and move them to the next steps.
4. Paperwork and Verification
| 2 | Every tenant has a signed agreement, ID on file, and completed police verification |
| 1 | Most do, but a few are incomplete or pending |
| 0 | Paperwork is informal, and verification is often skipped or delayed |
If you scored low: build it into every move-in using our onboarding checklist. In MyPG, police verification can be completed in the application, without a trip to the station.
5. Safety Basics
| 2 | I can name my safety measures: CCTV, controlled entry, fire equipment, emergency contacts |
| 1 | Some are in place, but not all are checked regularly |
| 0 | I couldn't list my safety measures if a parent asked |
If you scored low: start with a simple walk-through and write down what exists, what works, and what's missing.
6. Tenant Feedback
| 2 | I ask tenants how things are going, and I act on what I hear |
| 1 | I hear things when tenants volunteer them |
| 0 | I usually learn about problems when a tenant gives notice |
If you scored low: check in early and often. Silent dissatisfaction is a common route to tenant churn.
7. Cleanliness and Upkeep
| 2 | There's a daily routine with a checklist, and someone checks it was done |
| 1 | Cleaning happens, but standards depend on who is on duty |
| 0 | Cleaning is mostly reactive, after a complaint |
If you scored low: write the routine down and make it visible. MyPG has a daily housekeeping option and a daily checklist option for this.
8. Electricity and Shared Costs
| 2 | The method is written in the agreement, bills come from recorded readings, and tenants rarely question them |
| 1 | There's a method, but readings and calculations are manual and occasionally disputed |
| 0 | Billing is informal, and arguments about it are common |
If you scored low: pick a clear method and show your working. MyPG's smart meter management handles readings and the related dues automatically.
9. Knowing Your Numbers
| 2 | I know my monthly costs, break-even rent per bed, and occupancy, and I review rent at least yearly |
| 1 | I know roughly how I'm doing, but not the exact numbers |
| 0 | I couldn't say whether each bed is profitable |
If you scored low: start by adding up your monthly costs and dividing by your beds. That one number changes how you price and plan.
10. Can It Run Without You?
| 2 | If I were away for a week, routines and records would keep things running |
| 1 | Things would mostly run, but I'd get a lot of calls |
| 0 | Almost everything depends on me being there or remembering it |
If you scored low: write down the routine, assign owners, and keep records in one place. Our guide to staff management for PGs is a good next step.
Add Up Your Score
| Your score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 17 to 20 | Strong. Your basics are in good shape. Focus on keeping the routines going and on growth. |
| 12 to 16 | Solid, with gaps. Most things work, but a few depend on memory. Fix the lowest-scoring areas first. |
| 7 to 11 | Needs attention. Several areas rely on luck or your personal effort. Pick two or three and build simple systems around them. |
| 0 to 6 | Fix the basics first. Start with rent collection, complaints, and paperwork. Small changes there make everything else easier. |
These bands are a rough guide from common practice, not a measured benchmark. A score of 11 doesn't mean your PG is failing, and a 19 doesn't mean it can't improve.
What to Do With Your Result
- Look at your lowest two or three scores, not the total. That's where the quickest wins are.
- Fix one thing at a time. Trying to change everything at once usually means nothing sticks.
- Turn fixes into routines. A one-time effort fades. A checklist or an automatic reminder lasts.
- Check again in three months. Retaking the assessment shows what has actually changed.
If you're thinking about expanding, remember that gaps get bigger with scale. Our guide to managing multiple PGs explains what changes at each stage, and how a healthy single PG sets you up for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this assessment based on industry data?
No. It's built from common PG management practice and the problems owners usually run into. Use it as a self-check to spot gaps, not as a benchmark against other PGs.
What if my PG is small?
The questions still apply. Small PGs often score well because the owner is close to everything, but that's also why they can struggle when they grow or when the owner is away.
How often should I retake it?
Every three to six months is a good rhythm, or after any significant change like adding staff, rooms, or a second property.
Which question matters most?
For most PGs, rent collection, complaint handling, and paperwork have the biggest effect on stability. If you're unsure where to start, start there.
A healthy PG isn't one with no problems. It's one where problems get noticed and handled by a routine, not by luck. Five minutes with this scorecard shows you where yours stands, and which small fix will help most.
With MyPG's rent reminders, complaint tracking, inquiry follow-up, in-app police verification, daily housekeeping and daily checklist, and smart meter management, many of the areas above can run from one application instead of from memory.