Senior Leasehold Manager – AR

Job Details

Job Description: Senior Leasehold Manager

Organisation

Southern Housing

Role Overview

The Senior Leasehold Manager is a specialist role responsible for providing expert leadership on all leasehold matters across a residential housing portfolio. The role ensures full legal and regulatory compliance in leasehold management, with a strong focus on service charges, disputes, tribunals, and complex leasehold issues.

You will act as the organisation’s technical expert in leasehold law while also leading a team and supporting strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Leasehold Legal Expertise

  • Act as the organisation’s lead expert on UK leasehold law and case law
  • Interpret complex lease agreements covering service charges, repairs, insurance, and landlord/tenant obligations
  • Identify legal risks, defects, and ambiguities within leases
  • Develop and improve leasehold policies and governance frameworks

Service Charge & Compliance

  • Ensure service charges are fair, transparent, and legally compliant
  • Oversee Section 20 consultation processes for major works
  • Manage compliance with service charge legislation and trust accounting standards
  • Support budgeting, cost allocation, and reserve fund planning

Tribunal & Legal Case Management

  • Lead First-tier Tribunal (FTT) cases including disputes, lease variations, and service charge challenges
  • Prepare statements of case, evidence bundles, and legal submissions
  • Support Upper Tribunal and court-related matters where required

Leasehold Processes & Transactions

  • Oversee Right to Manage (RTM) applications and handovers
  • Support collective enfranchisement cases, including legal and valuation input
  • Manage lease variation processes and statutory applications

Stakeholder & Agent Management

  • Manage relationships with external managing agents ensuring compliance with RICS standards
  • Monitor agent performance, procurement, and financial controls
  • Provide clear advice to leaseholders, resident groups, and internal stakeholders

Dispute Resolution & Customer Focus

  • Manage complex leaseholder disputes and escalated complaints
  • Provide legally sound and practical advice to resolve conflicts
  • Ensure high standards of customer service and communication

Leadership & Governance

  • Lead and develop a team of leasehold managers
  • Deputise for the Head of Property Management when required
  • Ensure readiness for audit, regulatory scrutiny, and legislative changes
  • Promote compliance with Building Safety Act 2022 and related obligations

Requirements

Essential

  • Strong expertise in UK leasehold law and housing legislation
  • Significant experience in leasehold/block management or legal advisory roles
  • Proven experience handling FTT cases and leasehold disputes
  • Strong understanding of service charge accounting and consultation processes
  • Experience managing staff or leading teams
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
  • Ability to analyse complex leases and legal documents
  • Strong organisational and problem-solving skills

Desirable

  • Professional membership (TPI or MRICS)
  • Knowledge of building safety and fire safety legislation
  • Experience with managing agents and residential portfolios
  • Experience using property management systems (e.g. MRI Orchard)

Working Style

  • Hybrid working from Farringdon, Croydon, or Sittingbourne offices
  • Requires travel to sites and stakeholder meetings as needed