Senior Leasehold Manager - AR

Job Description: Senior Leasehold Manager

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