Landed Estate - Head of Property

Landed Estate – Head of Property

Northern Homes Counties

£100,000 salary plus benefits and bonus

Our client is a long-standing family estate based in the Northern Home Counties. The business is well structured and has a CEO, a CCO and a CFO in place. They have been running the real estate aspects of the operation for some years along with advisers. However, they now want to employ an experienced estate manager who has an established background in property management and/or asset management and who is happy to take on a hands-on role and who will report to the Board as Head of Property. An individual who is interested in and, ideally, has had some exposure to rural and environmental issues would be of considerable interest.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Planning & Financial Control:

• Plan and oversee maintenance and tenancy activities for residential, commercial, and agricultural portfolio.
• Develop and implement preventative and reactive maintenance programmes that minimise property downtime and maximise operational efficiency.
• Manage the procurement of maintenance supplies and equipment, ensuring cost-effective purchasing and inventory management.
• Prepare and manage annual maintenance budget, tracking expenses and ensuring cost control.
• Ensure rental revenue and service charge budget is prepared in advance of each financial year.

Maintenance Delivery:

• Coordinate, instruct and supervise maintenance staff and contractors, ensuring all work is completed to a high standard in accordance with regulation and within budget.
• Ensure prompt response to maintenance requests and emergencies, providing effective and timely solutions.
• Liaise with tenants and other stakeholders on issues providing regular updates.

Development Planning and Management:

• Assess new development opportunities across Estate and draft comprehensive Project Pipeline document demonstrating value of potential investment, in collaboration with CEO, CCO and CFO. This will form part of the Estate’s 10-Year Plan.
• Work closely with operational managers on the leisure side of the business, to understand different businesses’ property requirements and prioritise projects appropriately.
• Recognise existing properties’ lifecycle and productivity and evaluate the strategic value of redeveloping asset compared to carrying out extensive maintenance.
• Develop strong understanding of the local commercial market, local planning policy and planning history when advising on potential for redevelopment or change of use.

Tenancy Management:

• Ensure all tenancy agreements, renewals and terminations are conducted in accordance with lease agreements and relevant law.
• Ensure tenants are properly onboarded with appropriate referencing.
• Ensure tenancy records and related documentation are complete, accurate and up to date.
• Ensure there is clear, regular, and courteous communication with tenants on all landlord-tenant matters.
• Ensure regular property inspections take place and that tenants comply with lease obligations.
• Ensure rent collection is complete, accurate and on time.
• Prepare and issue rent review notices in accordance with lease terms.

Compliance & Record Keeping:

• Ensure all properties comply with relevant health and safety regulations, landlord obligations, and tenancy laws.
• Keep up to date with property legislation and advise management accordingly.
• Coordinate gas safety, electrical, and other statutory inspections.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, including work orders, inspections, and repairs.

Miscellaneous:

• Provide monthly reports on maintenance programme, on tenancy status, rental income, arrears budget variances and emerging issues.
• Training, development, and performance management of Property Team.
• Work with other members of the Estate to further environmental and sustainability objectives.
• Support development projects as required.

Criteria

Qualifications:

• Education to degree level.
• Membership of Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
• Valid UK driving licence.

Experience:

• Minimum 5-10 years as rural Property Manager or similar role with responsibility for 50+ properties.
• Minimum 5-10 years management of team of 5+ employees.
• Minimum 5-10 years management of contractors across all major trades.
• Minimum 5-10 years management/instruction of building & property professionals.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge of building systems, including plumbing, electrical, and structural.
• Good understanding of UK property laws and regulation.
• Good understanding of health and safety regulations and compliance requirements.
• Good understanding of planning laws and operation of planning system.
• Proficient in the use of property management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with tenants, contractors, and other stakeholders.

This is a first-class opportunity for a well-established property professional. There are many interesting challenges to face in this role and it provides a stimulating remit. To apply contact Peter Hardy at