Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Lettings Consultant
💰 $45,000 - $75,000 OTE
🎯 Role Definition
As a Lettings Consultant, you are the crucial link between landlords and prospective tenants. You are a salesperson, a negotiator, a customer service expert, and a market advisor all in one. This role is about more than just renting properties; it's about building lasting relationships, understanding client needs, and navigating the complexities of the lettings market to create successful tenancies. You will be at the forefront of our business, driving growth by managing a portfolio of properties, securing high-quality tenants, and ensuring a seamless and professional experience for all parties involved.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Lettings Administrator
- Junior Property Manager
- Sales or Customer Service Executive
Advancement To:
- Senior Lettings Consultant / Lettings Manager
- Branch Manager
- Head of Lettings / Regional Director
Lateral Moves:
- Property Manager
- Real Estate Sales Negotiator
- Business Development Manager (Property)
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Proactively registering and qualifying prospective tenants, meticulously recording their requirements and matching them to suitable properties within the portfolio.
- Generating and arranging a high volume of property viewings, managing schedules effectively to maximize opportunities for both tenants and landlords.
- Conducting professional and engaging property viewings, expertly highlighting the features and benefits of each property to prospective tenants.
- Building and maintaining strong, long-lasting relationships with landlords, providing regular, insightful feedback on market conditions and viewing activity.
- Skilfully negotiating offers between landlords and tenants to achieve the best possible outcome and secure a tenancy agreement.
- Managing the complete tenant application process, including collecting holding deposits and conducting thorough referencing and right-to-rent checks.
- Preparing and executing legally compliant tenancy agreements and associated documentation, ensuring all paperwork is accurate and completed in a timely manner.
- Actively marketing available properties across various platforms, including online portals (like Zillow, Rightmove, Zoopla), social media, and direct marketing channels.
- Writing compelling and accurate property descriptions and ensuring high-quality photographs are used to attract a wide pool of potential tenants.
- Consistently working towards and exceeding individual and team targets for lets agreed, move-ins, and revenue generation.
- Identifying opportunities to upsell and cross-sell additional company services, such as property management, rent protection, and insurance products.
- Keeping fully up-to-date with all relevant lettings legislation and housing regulations to ensure company and landlord compliance.
- Providing landlords with accurate and up-to-date rental valuations based on current market trends and comparable property data.
- Proactively canvassing for new business and generating market appraisal appointments to grow the company's portfolio of managed properties.
- Coordinating with property management and administration teams to ensure a smooth move-in process for new tenants, including inventory checks and key handovers.
- Handling initial inquiries and resolving any pre-tenancy issues that may arise from tenants, landlords, or other stakeholders.
- Maintaining and updating the company's CRM database with all client communications, viewing feedback, and offer details.
- Conducting periodic property inspections during a tenancy to ensure the property is being well-maintained, providing detailed reports to the landlord.
- Managing the tenancy renewal process, negotiating rent increases where appropriate, and issuing renewal documentation.
- Building a strong network of local contacts and actively promoting the company's brand within the local community to generate new leads.
- Liaising with contractors and maintenance teams to coordinate any necessary pre-tenancy works required by the landlord or tenant.
- Providing exceptional customer service at all stages of the lettings process to encourage repeat business and positive reviews.
Secondary Functions
- Assisting the property management team with ad-hoc queries and administrative tasks as required.
- Contributing to team meetings by sharing market insights, successes, and challenges.
- Supporting junior team members and new starters through informal mentoring and guidance.
- Participating in local networking events and property shows to represent the company and build brand awareness.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Negotiation & Sales: Proven ability to negotiate deals, handle objections, and close sales effectively in a competitive environment.
- Lettings Legislation: Strong knowledge of local and national landlord-tenant laws, fair housing regulations, and tenancy deposit schemes.
- Property Marketing: Experience using online property portals, social media, and other channels to effectively market properties to a target audience.
- CRM Software: Proficiency with real estate CRM systems (e.g., Reapit, Alto, RentManager, Yardi) for managing client data and daily tasks.
- Valuation Acumen: Ability to accurately assess rental values based on current market data, property condition, and location.
Soft Skills
- Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for building rapport and conveying information clearly to a diverse range of clients.
- Resilience: The ability to handle rejection, manage pressure, and remain positive and motivated in a target-driven environment.
- Time Management & Organization: Excellent organizational skills to juggle a busy diary of appointments, calls, and administrative tasks efficiently.
- Customer Focus: A genuine passion for delivering outstanding customer service and building long-term, professional relationships.
- Problem-Solving: A proactive and resourceful approach to identifying and resolving issues that arise during the lettings process.
- Persuasion & Influence: The ability to build trust and professionally influence the decisions of both landlords and tenants.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- High School Diploma or equivalent.
Preferred Education:
- Associate's or Bachelor's Degree.
- Industry-specific certifications (e.g., ARLA Propertymark in the UK, National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) in the US).
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Business Administration
- Real Estate
- Marketing
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range: 1-3 years in a lettings, real estate, or target-driven sales role.
Preferred: Direct experience as a Lettings Consultant or Lettings Negotiator with a demonstrable track record of meeting and exceeding targets. A full, clean driving license is often required.