The caretaker is the most important hire a small landlord makes, and usually the least considered. They are the person your tenants actually deal with, and the reason a building either runs quietly or generates a phone call every evening.
What to look for
Reachability. Someone who answers the phone. This sounds trivial and is the single biggest differentiator.
Judgement about escalation. You want someone who fixes a dripping tap without asking, and who calls you before authorising a new water pump. Both halves matter.
Written records, however basic. A caretaker who notes what was done and what it cost, even in an exercise book, saves you from reconstructing a year from memory.
Standing with tenants. Ask the existing tenants about a caretaker you are inheriting. They will tell you in one sentence.
What to delegate
Showing vacant units, if you brief them on price and terms First response to maintenance Meter readings Common-area cleaning and security supervision Small repairs under an agreed limit