Commercial Advisor

Job Title: Commercial Property Advisor

Contract Type: Fixed term until 30th September 2024

Salary: £32,000 to £35,500 per annum

Working Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm/ Hybrid

Location: Camden

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

The difference you will make as a Commercial Property Advisor

You will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of our commercial property portfolio, being the first point of contact for all commercial tenants, caretakers, contractors, and agents. You will provide an excellent customer focused, professional service to customers, ensuring all legal landlord/freeholder obligations are met, ensuring all relevant fees, charges, notices, and rents are issued in a timely manner and addressing as required any queries in relation to these.

About you

We are looking for someone with:

Experience working in property / housing management. An understanding and working knowledge of relevant legislation: landlord / tenant statutes / responsibilities. Contract law relating to leases. 
Ability to generate strong working relationships with internal customers, tenants, and professional advisers.
Knowledge of the commercial property sector
Be numerically and financially proficient

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives. 

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

Competitive pay & generous pension 
28 days holidays plus bank holidays
Flexible working options available
Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside: 

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues. 

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Role Profile

Provide an excellent customer focused service for Riverside’s customers, clients, and properties in management:

To act as the first point of contact for all tenant queries and those raised by prospective tenants
To action maintenance requests, raise works orders; arrange access for contractors in a timely and efficient manner, ensuring good communication and accurate exchange of information between Landlord, tenant, and contractors. 
To arrange post repair inspection and any other forms of monitoring to allow assessment of contractor performance. sending relevant information packs and arranging / carrying out viewings. 
To ensure that all new rental properties are correctly added to systems. 
To collect and compile statistical information as required, including on performance indicators and collating performance reports for the service. 
To undertake site visits, home visits and any other outside meetings as required to fulfil the requirements of the post. 
To deputise as requested for the Commercial Property Manager

Proactively manage the commercial property portfolio - including marketing, letting, maintenance, compliance and landlord / tenant functions:

To carry out all property management tasks as directed by manager or other appropriate senior manager. 
To carry out end of tenancy inspections, action any necessary repairs, dilapidations, negotiations, and record and process any deposit deductions in conjunction with the tenant, keeping them always informed. 
To work as required to address incidents of ASB where they involve or affect a customer, plus to assist as required with incidents relating to other properties. To ensure effective working on ASB with other property management staff and as required take the lead on relevant ASB cases or assist in other cases as is necessary. 
Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. 
To manage parking controls at Riverside Group managed sites to maintain up to date records relevant to all customers and customer contact details. 
To liaise closely with legal representatives to produce legal documentation.
To arrange post repair inspection and any other forms of monitoring to allow assessment of contractor performance.
To execute renewals and lease terminations including dilapidations for the commercial portfolio 
To carry out end of tenancy inspections, action any necessary repairs, dilapidations, negotiations, and record and process any deposit deductions in conjunction with the tenant, keeping them always informed. 
To ensure that regular estate and property inspections are carried out, taking prompt and effective action to rectify any issues in line with targets, policies, and procedures. 
To code invoices through the Riverside invoicing system and pass to relevant person within the team to authorise for payment

Monitor commercial tenant performance and maintain accurate records; escalating and enforcing leases as required:

To arrange check ins and check outs of rental tenants and keep a central record for all leases. To ensure that all files have a signed check in/check out report and sign off authorisation sheet where applicable. 
Prepare relevant financial paperwork and ensure this is filed and processed correctly, to complete completions, arrears procedures, registering and returning deposits.
To ensure all repairs re-charges are marked on the tenancy file as appropriate. 
To maximise income by meeting personal and organisational performance targets, objectives, and service levels. 
 To monitor and maintain a portfolio of accounts on a regular basis as allocated in accordance with procedures and audit requirements. Identify new and existing cases in arrears, take early action to minimise arrears, undertake administration of the portfolio, collect income, and make arrangements with debtors to pay outstanding debts. 
Assist in issuing invoices as required. 
 To maintain and update in line with GDPR, accurate information on the property portfolio in relation to individuals, addresses, contracts, tenancies, and properties including unit, block and estate / scheme information and their relevant assets. 
To deal with and respond to complex correspondence / and formal complaints from customers. To reply fully and with regard to customer service requirements in the timeframe specified to all such enquiries. To investigate and resolve disputes, including providing advice and information to customers. 
To undertake detailed preparation for court action including court documentation in accordance with the Civil Court Procedures. Where necessary attend court for hearings to represent Riverside Group interests. To monitor adherence to the terms of any Court Orders, identifying and reporting any breaches 
 To carry out all landlord/freeholder management tasks as directed
To work closely with the Service Charge and Rents team to contribute as necessary to reviews of estate services and service charges, and to assist with the process of constructing accurate rents and service charges. 
To ensure all documentation and customer communication is stored accurately on company systems.

Person specification

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

Experience working in property / housing management. An understanding and working knowledge of relevant legislation: landlord / tenant statutes / responsibilities. Contract law relating to leases. 
 Ability to generate strong working relationships with internal customers, tenants, and professional advisers.
To be numerically and financially proficient 
Good level of IT skills and literacy
Knowledge of the commercial property sector 
 To work as reasonably required in any of Riverside London’s geographical area. 

Desirable 

Good working knowledge of the relevant legislation (even where complex) specifically the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Strong commercial awareness and understanding of market factors driving commercial values.
Experience of using specialist property / housing related ICT systems 
Experience of preparing marketing materials 
Experience of accounting / account management 
Experience of commercial portfolio management or equivalent 
Experience or understanding of service charge administration and legislation