Lettings Negotiator

We're Capital One Property Management, an HMO lettings and management company in Teesside, and we're growing fast. New properties are coming on across Hartlepool, Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough, and we need someone with sales and property experience to take ownership of our lettings.

This is a new role, working directly with the two directors who run the business. You'll have real responsibility from day one, and as we grow, the role grows with us: more hours, and a move into winning new landlords, marketing and business development.

What's in it for you:

• £15 an hour plus a bonus of up to £100 for every room you let
• Work from home, out across the four towns for viewings
• No layers of management: you work directly with us, and your ideas get heard and used
• Full training, written processes and a three-week induction
• The chance to get in early with a business thats growing

About us

Capital One Property Management Ltd manages HMOs and single lets across Hartlepool, Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough, for our own portfolio and for private landlords. We are growing, and we are building a technology-led lettings business: a database of pre-vetted tenants, automated room alerts to people waiting in each town, and matching tenants to rooms before the viewing. This role is being created so one person owns lettings from advert to move-in.

Purpose of the role

To keep our managed rooms let. You will own the lettings process from advertisement to move-in, fill vacant rooms quickly with suitable tenants, and build and maintain a pipeline of pre-vetted applicants so that each room is re-let with the shortest possible void.

• Marketing and listings: create, publish and maintain room listings on SpareRoom, OpenRent and our website to the agreed photography and presentation standard, at rents set by the Directors.
• Enquiry management: respond to every tenant enquiry on the same working day and keep a consistently fast first response across all channels. The working day begins and ends with the enquiry inbox cleared.
• Applicant screening: carry out structured telephone screening against our agreed suitability criteria and progress suitable applicants to viewing.
• Viewings: schedule and conduct viewings across the four towns, grouped by location, including after-work slots and Saturday mornings when booked. Confirm appointments, follow up every viewing the same day and manage non-attendance.
• Applications, referencing and move-ins: manage the process through to tenancy agreement, deposit, inventory handover and key release, so every move-in is complete and correct on the agreed date.
• Tenant database: record every enquiry, applicant and former tenant accurately with the appropriate consent, keep records current, and re-engage suitable contacts as rooms become available.
• Tenant pipeline: maintain a pool of pre-vetted applicants and develop relationships with local employers and organisations with ongoing accommodation needs.
• Reporting: report weekly on response times, viewings, lets agreed and void days per room.
• Systems and records: keep COHO and our other systems accurate and up to date, and follow our written processes and templates.

Outside the scope of the role

Repairs and maintenance, inspections, compliance and licensing, rent arrears and winning new landlord clients remain with the Directors at present. The role does not involve manual work on properties.

Pay and benefits

• £15.00 per hour, paid monthly through PAYE
• Letting bonus: £100 for a room let within 7 days, £50 within 14 days, £25 thereafter (discretionary scheme; full terms provided before appointment)
• 28 days' holiday a year including bank holidays, pro rata to hours
• Company mobile phone and laptop
• Business mileage paid at the HMRC approved rate
• Structured three-week induction and written processes from day one

How the role may develop

As the number of rooms under management grows, we expect contracted hours to increase, with the aim of the role becoming full time. Over time the role is expected to develop into business development: winning new landlords and management contracts, meeting prospective clients, outreach to employers, and marketing and social media. Any change to hours, pay or duties would be agreed in writing at the time.

Contract and checks

Permanent, with a 6-month probationary period and a review at 3 months. Any offer is subject to right to work, two references, driving licence and business-use insurance, a basic DBS check and a credit check (the role involves handling tenant deposits and client money).

Capital One Property Management Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.

Essential

• Sales experience in a role requiring fast response, follow-up and closing, for example lettings, estate agency, recruitment or telesales
• Experience of working in property, for example lettings, estate agency, property management or housing
• Confident and effective on the telephone; able to ask direct questions and decline unsuitable applicants courteously
• Well organised, with accurate record-keeping and the ability to follow every lead through to completion
• Able to work independently across the four towns and manage own time
• Full UK driving licence, access to a vehicle for work and business-use motor insurance, or the ability to meet the travel requirements of the role by other means
• Comfortable with property software and messaging tools (training on our systems is provided)

Desirable

• Residential lettings or HMO experience
• Knowledge of the Hartlepool, Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough rental markets