At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead leasing strategy for high-end residential properties and optimise occupancy and income.
- Company: Dynamic real estate firm in Central London with a focus on prime residential portfolios.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in the luxury property market while leading innovative leasing strategies.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in prime residential leasing and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on strategic thinking and operational excellence.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: Central London - Hybrid working
Salary - Competitive plus Bonus
Role Overview
This role provides strategic leadership and oversight of leasing performance across a prime and super-prime residential portfolio, including high-end apartments across multiple locations. You will be responsible for setting, delivering, and continuously refining the lettings strategy to optimise occupancy, income, and long-term asset performance. A key focus will be proactively managing high levels of tenant turnover, ensuring operational resilience, income protection, and a best-in-class resident experience. The role will lead the end-to-end leasing function, ensuring all processes, systems, governance, and performance standards are consistently applied across the portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Letting Plan, supported by robust financial modelling and budget forecasting.
- Maintain consistently high occupancy across a prime and super-prime portfolio through strategic pricing, market positioning, and proactive asset management.
- Drive residential income through rental growth (where market-appropriate), effective arrears management, and identification of additional revenue streams, including third-party service referrals.
- Adapt leasing strategies in response to legislative changes, including preparation for the Renters' Rights Act (May 2026).
Leasing Operations & Governance
- Lead the leasing strategy across all schemes, ensuring processes, systems, and operational improvements are embedded, scalable, and sustainably governed.
- Review and evaluate external letting agent relationships and assess the feasibility and benefits of establishing an in-house lettings function to improve control and reduce costs.
- Analyse leasing performance against budget and forecast, providing regular and ad-hoc reporting to senior stakeholders.
Marketing & Stakeholder Collaboration
- Work closely with marketing teams to shape and deliver effective communication, branding, and targeted advertising strategies.
- Partner with finance to minimise arrears and protect income streams.
- Collaborate with asset management and property teams to support asset initiatives, capital projects, and best-in-class asset performance.
Commercial & Asset Insight
- Analyse and implement appropriate product and service propositions to support delivery of the leasing strategy.
- Build and manage strong relationships with service partners, negotiating commercial terms to ensure value and performance.
- Support the evaluation of letting transactions, capital expenditure, and operational expenditure projects.
- Contribute to annual asset business plans, quarterly updates, and board-level reporting.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure compliance with all organisational policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
- Adhere to relevant Quality Management (ISO 9001) and Health & Safety Management (ISO 45001) systems.
Experience
- Proven experience in prime and super-prime residential leasing is essential.
- Demonstrable experience managing high-turnover residential assets.
- Strong track record of protecting and enhancing the commercial performance of residential portfolios.
Skills & Qualifications
- Exceptional written communication skills, with experience producing clear, concise board-level reports.
- Confident and credible presenter, able to influence property owners, senior executives, and operational teams.
- Highly analytical and detail-oriented, with the ability to interpret complex financial and operational data.
- Strong numeracy and data-driven decision-making capability.
- Advanced IT literacy, particularly across Microsoft Office.
- Results-focused, with the ability to set clear objectives and deliver against them.
Person Specification
- Commercially astute, with a strong focus on business outcomes.
- Strategic thinker who can move comfortably between high-level strategy and operational detail.
- Resilient and confident, including delivering challenging messages when required.
- Collaborative leader who works effectively independently and within teams.
- Curious, analytical, and solutions-focused, with a proactive approach to change.
- Trusted communicator who builds strong relationships quickly.
- Adaptable, agile, and comfortable operating in a dynamic regulatory and market environment.
Key Relationships & Stakeholders
- Tenancy Operations Managers
- Marketing and Finance Teams, Asset General Managers
- Executive Management Team
- UK regulatory bodies, professional advisors, and public authorities
Head of Residential employer: deverellsmith
Contact Detail:
deverellsmith Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Residential
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their portfolio and recent projects. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role. Plus, it’ll give you the confidence to ask insightful questions!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. Focus on articulating your experience in managing high-turnover residential assets and how you can drive income growth. The more you practice, the more natural it will feel!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment. So, get your application in and let’s make it happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Residential
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Residential role. Highlight your experience in managing high-turnover residential assets and your strategic approach to leasing performance. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since exceptional written communication is key for this role, ensure your application is clear and concise. Use bullet points where necessary and avoid jargon. We love a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!
Demonstrate Your Analytical Mindset: We’re looking for someone who can interpret complex data and make informed decisions. Include examples in your application that showcase your analytical skills, especially in financial modelling and budget forecasting. Numbers tell a story, so let yours shine!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at deverellsmith
✨Know Your Portfolio Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's residential portfolio. Understand the key locations, types of properties, and current market trends. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can optimise occupancy and income.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss your approach to developing and implementing a lettings strategy. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed high-turnover assets in the past, and be ready to explain how you would adapt strategies in response to legislative changes.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to talk about your experience with financial modelling and budget forecasting. Highlight specific instances where your analytical skills led to improved leasing performance or revenue growth, as this role requires a strong data-driven decision-making capability.
✨Build Relationships with Stakeholders
Think about how you would collaborate with marketing, finance, and asset management teams. Share examples of how you've built strong relationships in previous roles, as this will show your ability to work effectively across departments and enhance the resident experience.