Block Manager

Block Manager

Based Birmingham

Salary up to £35,000

9.15am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday

My client, with a portfolio across the South East and Midlands, is seeking a Property Manager for their office in Sutton Coldfield. The ideal candidate will have excellent customer service skills and a solid background in block/estate/leasehold management.

The Role

Client Care

• Follow and adhere to company policies and procedures at all times
• Prepare reports for the Board (Major Works, Property Inspections, H&S Reports, schedules of information etc.)
• Put forward recommendations and obtain instructions on matters concerning the effective management of the managed portfolio
• Manage risks and liabilities at all times
• Maintain good Landlord and Tenant relationships by providing a high quality service to all tenants and leaseholders
• Obtain value for money and act in a commercially focused manner at all times

Day to Day Management

• Understand the various types of interest/ tenures and its obligations in respect of each (Freehold, Head lease, Lessee, Leaseback, Tenant)
• Liaise with leaseholders, tenants, residents associations in a prompt and professional manner
• Attend residents' meetings as required
• Read and interpret leases to ensure that the portfolio is managed in accordance with the provisions of the lease
• Manage site staff (caretakers, porters)
• Utilise the Group's Property Management Systems (Horizon) to run reports, input data, raise purchase orders, approve invoices etc
• Deal with Insurance Claims
• Undertake routine Property Inspections and identify any building defects/ maintenance issues

Maintenance

• Deal with maintenance issues, both reactive and planned
• Manage Contractors to ensure that works are carried out in a proper manner at a reasonable cost
• Set up SLA's
• Specify minor works and obtain comparative quotes
• Liaise with the Area Building Surveyor
• Audit/ spot check works before signing off invoices for payment

Legal

• Liaise with the Legal Department to answer Pre-contract Enquiries (LPE1)
• Attend court as required
• Deal with disputes/ breaches of lease (i.e. service charge/ ground rent arrears, unauthorised alterations, disrepair) in a proactive way
• Assist the Legal Department with any licence to alter applications, statutory lease extension and enfranchisement claims

H&S

• Accompany the appointed Risk Assessor on their H&S and Fire Risk Assessment inspections and provide them with information necessary to complete their report
• Manage H&S across the designated portfolio
• Review statutory inspection reports and deal with any remedial works/ recommendations which are raised

Financial

• Prepare Service Charge Budgets in a timely fashion
• Set Reserve Funds to ensure that major works can be undertaken, as planned and without significant increases for leaseholders or the group where tenders need to be re-invited
• Assist with the preparation of end of year accounts and answer expenditure queries from external auditors, accounts and leaseholders
• Monitor service charge and ground rent arrears regularly
• Review rents annually and seek rent increases accordingly

Requirements

• Sound working knowledge of Landlord and Tenant legislation, H&S legislation, RICS and ARMA guidelines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure
• Good IT skills and proficient in Outlook, MS Word, Excel, Knowledge of HORIZON/ QUBE an advantage
• Good team player
• A commitment to providing high levels of service at all times
• Ideally MIRPM or an industry recognised and relevant qualification
• Driving licence and own vehicle essential

Please apply with your CV today. Those with no experience of block management need not apply.