Background
The Walton Charity owns and manages a property portfolio made up of sheltered housing, community buildings, supported houses and offices. It needed a Property Manager reporting to the Chief Executive and leading the maintenance and caretaking staff.
The aim of the role was clear: homes and buildings that are well maintained and are places where residents want to live and where the Charity can deliver its services.
The Challenge
A charity landlord needs a property professional who can work at strategic and practical levels. The postholder would develop a capital works programme with the Charity's advisors, set up routine maintenance and repairs, and tender and award maintenance, service and refurbishment contracts.
Compliance carried particular weight. The Property Manager was responsible for health and safety, fire safety, building regulations and gas and electrical safety, including annual housing inspections, and for reporting to trustees so the board could make informed decisions. The role also involved resident and tenant complaints and finding ways to involve residents in improvements.
The essential requirements were demanding: a relevant technical qualification or significant housing investment and maintenance experience, at least five years in tenancy and property management, and the budget and report-writing skills to satisfy a board. RICS accreditation was desirable. Candidates with both the technical depth and a housing or charity mindset are scarce.
Cultural fit was a further consideration. The postholder would be part of the management team, working closely with the Chief Executive, and would raise the Charity's profile in the local community. They would also need to travel between properties by car, support residents and staff through change and keep a clear head under pressure.
Our Approach
- We discussed the portfolio and the Chief Executive's expectations of the role before approaching anyone.
- We targeted housing association, supported housing and residential property professionals as well as facilities managers with a compliance background.
- We screened against the essential requirements, testing for real experience of regulatory compliance, contractor tendering and trustee-level reporting.
- We guided the shortlisted candidates through interview and offer.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens made the appointment.
If you are hiring a property or housing manager for a charity or social landlord, talk to Maxwell Stephens about how we would approach it.
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