About Lucent Leases
Lucent Leases Ltd is a growing provider of temporary accommodation to local authorities, working closely with councils to provide safe, suitable and well-managed accommodation for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
As our portfolio continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced, proactive and highly organised Property Manager to take responsibility for a portfolio of temporary accommodation properties across Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
This is a hands-on role for someone who is confident dealing with landlords, local authorities, contractors, residents and internal teams, and who takes genuine pride in maintaining high standards across their portfolio.
The Role
As Property Manager, you will have day-to-day responsibility for the successful operation of a portfolio of temporary accommodation properties.
You will be responsible for ensuring properties remain safe, compliant, occupied, well maintained and financially performing, while ensuring that residents receive a professional and appropriate service.
You will regularly visit properties, deal with issues as they arise and work closely with our office and senior management team to ensure the portfolio operates efficiently.
Key Responsibilities
Property Management
- Manage a portfolio of temporary accommodation properties across Portsmouth and surrounding areas.
- Carry out regular property inspections and welfare/property checks.
- Ensure properties are clean, safe, compliant and maintained to a high standard.
- Identify maintenance issues and coordinate repairs with contractors and landlords.
- Monitor voids and ensure properties are turned around and re-let as quickly as possible.
- Manage property inventories, keys, inspections and handovers.
- Ensure all required property documentation and compliance certificates remain up to date.
- Liaise with landlords regarding repairs, maintenance and property-related matters.
Resident Management
- Act as a key point of contact for residents and deal professionally with day-to-day issues.
- Respond promptly to complaints, antisocial behaviour and breaches of licence/occupancy agreements.
- Carry out appropriate welfare and property checks.
- Maintain professional boundaries when dealing with vulnerable residents.
- Escalate safeguarding, welfare or serious behavioural concerns appropriately.
- Work with the relevant local authority where intervention is required.
Local Authority Relationships
- Maintain a strong professional relationship with council housing and temporary accommodation teams.
- Respond promptly to council queries and requests.
- Assist with placements, property availability and move-ins/move-outs.
- Ensure properties remain suitable for continued use as temporary accommodation.
- Support the management team in maintaining and developing local authority relationships.
Financial & Operational Management
- Monitor property performance, occupancy and void levels.
- Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary expenditure.
- Approve and monitor maintenance works within agreed authority levels.
- Ensure contractors provide value for money and complete works to an appropriate standard.
- Report recurring issues and operational concerns to senior management.
- Assist with portfolio reporting and forecasting.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who is commercially minded, organised and highly proactive.
The successful candidate will ideally have experience in one or more of the following:
- Property management
- Temporary accommodation
- Housing
- Supported accommodation
- Homelessness services
- Lettings
- Social housing
- Facilities/property operations
Experience working with local authorities would be highly advantageous.
You will need to be comfortable working independently, making decisions and dealing with challenging situations. This is not a purely office-based role — you will be expected to be out across the portfolio regularly.
Essential Requirements
- Previous property/housing management experience.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- Ability to deal confidently with landlords, residents, councils and contractors.
- Ability to manage multiple properties and competing priorities.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Professional approach when dealing with vulnerable individuals.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Willingness to travel regularly across the portfolio.
- Good IT skills and confidence using property management systems.
Desirable
- Experience working within temporary accommodation.
- Experience working with local authorities.
- Knowledge of homelessness legislation and housing regulations.
- Experience managing HMOs.
- Knowledge of property compliance requirements.
- Experience managing antisocial behaviour and resident complaints.
- Previous experience managing a large property portfolio.
What We Offer
- £30,000–£35,000 salary, depending on experience.
- Company vehicle/mileage allowance.
- Full-time permanent position.
- Monday–Friday working pattern.
- Opportunity to join a rapidly growing business.
- Significant responsibility and autonomy.
- Career progression as the Lucent portfolio continues to expand.
- A varied role where no two days are the same.
- Direct exposure to local authorities, landlords and senior management.
The Person
This role would suit someone who is:
Proactive – you don't wait for problems to become bigger before dealing with them.
Commercial – you understand that properties need to be both well managed and financially viable.
Resilient – you can remain calm and professional when dealing with difficult situations.
Organised – you can manage a large number of properties, issues and deadlines simultaneously.
People-focused – you understand the importance of treating residents with dignity while maintaining clear professional boundaries.
Accountable – you take ownership of problems and see them through to resolution.
About Lucent
Lucent Leases is an ambitious and rapidly growing temporary accommodation provider. We work in partnership with local authorities to provide safe, suitable and professionally managed accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
We are building a high-performing property operations team and are looking for someone who wants to grow with the business and take genuine ownership of their portfolio.
If you're an experienced Property Manager who wants a role with responsibility, variety and genuine progression, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: £25,420.00-£29,740.13 per year
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
