THE CLIENT

Our client is a long-established, RICS-regulated firm of chartered surveyors specialising in commercial property management. The practice has acted for property owners and landlords for more than 30 years, across property management, facilities management and asset management.

The team is small and cohesive, with more than 100 years of combined experience. The principal and several colleagues trained in the property management team of a global real estate adviser.

Clients include family trusts, private investors and corporate owners. The portfolio covers city-centre offices and retail, a mixed-use shopping courtyard with residential above, a central London retail and residential estate, regional business parks and a multi-occupancy portfolio for a national hospitality group. Many relationships run back more than a decade.

WHY THIS APPOINTMENT EXISTS

Our client has a strong book of long-standing clients and a lean, capable team. It now needs an Associate or Senior surveyor to own client relationships day to day and drive value across the portfolio.

This is not a desk-bound management role. It combines landlord and tenant work, asset management and the financial discipline of running service charges. The right person will make a visible difference from the start.

For an ambitious surveyor, it is a route to Associate Director in a practice small enough for your work to be noticed.

THE ROLE

Client management and reporting

Act as the main point of contact for a portfolio of property owner clients.

Prepare regular, standardised client reports, including property visit feedback and accounts.

Make sure the service requirements in each client management agreement are delivered.

Carry out regular property visits to check lease compliance, condition and occupier use.

Landlord and tenant

Respond to lease queries from clients, occupiers and advisers.

Progress applications for alterations, assignments and underlettings.

Progress lease renewals and rent reviews, or appoint and manage consultants to do so.

Liaise with building surveyors, letting agents, rating specialists and lawyers as needed.

Asset management

Re-gear leases and progress added-value opportunities.

Review lease expiries well ahead of time and recommend the best strategy to the owner.

Identify ways to protect income, reduce voids and keep assets in a ready-for-sale position.

Service charge and finance

Set service charge budgets and progress year-end reconciliations.

Help approve quarterly charges for rent, service charge and insurance.

Help chase monies due and keep commercial and residential arrears schedules up to date.

Help raise fee invoices and purchase orders, progress BACS runs and one-off payments, and sign off invoices.

Monitor payment of the firm’s fee invoices.

Systems, schedules and administration

Help keep the Re-leased management system current, including leases, licences and rent review settlements recorded through change notes.

Keep key schedules up to date: voids, service charge, insurance, and health and safety.

Liaise with suppliers and contractors.

Cover calls and keep electronic and hard-copy files in order.

Provide a timely, responsive service to clients and occupiers.

THE PERSON

Essential

Solid commercial property management experience, ideally gained in a managing agent or consultancy.

Working knowledge of commercial leases, licences, renewals and rent reviews.

Hands-on experience of service charge budgets and reconciliations.

Comfortable with figures: rent rolls, arrears, invoices and client accounts.

Organised and accurate, with a track record of meeting quarterly deadlines.

Discreet and professional with financial and occupier information.

Confident working independently and making sound decisions without close supervision.

Desirable

MRICS, with a few years’ post-qualification experience. Strong unqualified candidates will be considered.

Experience of Re-leased or a similar system such as Qube, Xero or Sage.

Exposure to lease re-gears and asset management initiatives.

Experience across retail, office, industrial and mixed-use residential property.