The Role
Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation.
Much of our accommodation has commercial space at ground floor, the management of which is outsourced to Alder King, who act as Asset and Property Manager on Unite**`**s behalf.
We are seeking to increase our focus on the commercial portfolio both to positively impact our students**`**experience and to contribute to our financial performance. As an in-house commercial property manager, you will work closely with Alder King, taking responsibility for a mixed portfolio of commercial units across the UK. Your role will comprise all aspects of property management, including lease administration, tenant liaison, compliance, and management of rental arrears and non-recoverable costs. You will work within the Asset Management team, liaising closely with the Operations, Energy & Environment and Finance teams
What You`ll Be Doing
- Manage a diverse portfolio of commercial properties, conducting regular inspections and acting as primary point of contact to retained property management advisors
- Resolve day-to-day property management issues
- Monitor and manage key lease events. Provide support on lease issues, rent reviews, lease renewals and tenant assignments. Support the Asset Management team in delivering business plan by ensuring a clear focus on leasing activity to minimise voids and maximise income.
- Instruct business rates appeals/mitigation and support with tenant re-charges for insurance and utilities to minimise non-recoverable costs
- Undertake tenant fit out reviews, providing feedback to Alder King and coordinate dilapidations at lease expiry
- Help oversee maintenance of properties via third party contractors and support with insurance claims where required
- Assist with due diligence on property acquisitions and disposals
- Ensure financial diligence, including managing rents, service charges, and insurance premiums, while contributing to cost-saving initiatives.
- Liaise with finance team on budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance analysis to deliver annual income in accordance with budget.
- Manage tenant arrears and write off recommendations
- Assist with compliance in respect of all relevant property regulations and laws
- Work with health & safety and operational teams and ensure gas safety certificates, electrical certificates and asbestos survey reports are in place
- Manage performance of third-party agents and suppliers, ensuring agreed costs/timescales are adhered to
- Manage void unit compliance
- Act as the daily point of contact for external property management advisors
- Build strong relationships with occupiers, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver high-quality service and enhance client satisfaction.
- Work closely with the operations team to support them in delivering the best possible student experience, ensure any works to commercial space or new lettings are communicated to the regional leadership team
- Several buildings are programmed for cladding remedial works, a key part of this role will be working with the cladding team to ensure commercial tenant communication and support and where appropriate rent concessions or compensation is provided for in the cladding budget
What We`re Looking for in You
- Experience: Significant experiencein multi-site commercial property or estate management.
- Qualifications: MRICS qualification is highly desirable but not essential
- Skills: Strong numeracy and IT skills are required. Proficiency in landlord and tenant legislation.
- Communication: An effective communicator, able to manage relationships with clients and stakeholders at all levels.
- Personal Attributes: We seek individuals who are self-motivated, problem solvers who excel in the day to day responsibilities of property management. Capable of thriving in a fast-paced, evolving environment with the ability to work with minimum supervision and prioritising multiple demands effectively whilst maintaining a high level of accuracy, quality and attention to detail.
- Travel: Ability to travel regularly across the UK
What You`ll Get in Return
- A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
- 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
- A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
- Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
- Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
- Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!
About Unite Students
Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.
Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.
People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.
Room for Everyone
We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.
We are US.