Estates Officer
What is the work like?
As an estates officer, you would be responsible for the management of land and property belonging to local councils and other public bodies such as health authorities.
Your tasks would typically include:
- organising and checking repairs and maintenance
- making sure properties are being used for their intended purpose
- dealing with tenancy applications and monitoring tenancy agreements
- setting and reviewing rents
- assessing the potential of property for both short- and long-term future use
- checking returns on investments
- negotiating with landowners and other interested parties about compulsory purchase or purchase by agreement
- advising on land purchase issues
- attending meetings and liaising with other departments and organisations
- completing reports, and carrying out financial and statistical analyses
- keeping up to date with land management and environmental issues.
You could specialise in lettings, acquisitions or management.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
Most employers will expect you to have at least five GCSEs (A-C), possibly A levels or similar, and an HNC in housing or related subject. You may need a degree in surveying or housing management, and many estates officers are qualified technical or chartered surveyors.
You can qualify as a surveyor through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
To qualify through RICS you need one of the following:
- a RICS accredited three- or four-year full-time degree in surveying, or
- a RICS accredited four-year sandwich degree in a relevant subject including one year's work experience, or
- employment in a surveyor's office whilst studying for a RICS accredited degree by block release, day release or distance learning.
You can do accredited courses by distance learning through the College of Estate Management.
If your degree is not in a relevant subject you could do a postgraduate conversion course.
To qualify through the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) you would need an accredited honours degree.
See the RICS and the CIOB websites for more details.
Visit the Royal Institution of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) website for details of other relevant courses.
What further training and development can I do?
As an estates officer you can work towards NVQ Level 4 in Property Management or Housing.
If you have an RICS or CIOB accredited degree you can work towards chartered surveyor status by gaining further experience and assessment.
Through the RICS you need to complete an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). This involves:
- finding employment and completing at least two years' practical training and experience
- a practical assessment and interview.
If you have completed an accredited industrial training year as part of a degree course this will count towards the two-year requirement.
To qualify through the CIOB, you will need either two years' relevant experience or a CIOB examination pass.
Where can I go for more information?
2 The Courtyard48 New North Road
Exeter
Devon
EX4 4EP
Helpline: 08000 567160
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 6AW
Tel: 0800 019 9697
London
WC1N 2LF
Tel: 020 7831 3505
Kings Ride
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7TB
Tel: 01344 630700
Westwood Way
Coventry
CV4 8JE
Tel: 0870 333 1600
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Estates officers in local government can earn between £18,000 and £26,000 a year.
- Experienced officers can earn from around £32,500 to £35,000.
Income can vary considerably depending on qualifications and responsibilities.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would work around 36 hours a week. You may have to work some evenings for committee work and meetings. Flexi-time, part-time work and job sharing may be available.
You would be mostly office-based, but also travel to attend meetings and visit sites.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- communication, presentation and organisational skills
- numerical skills
- tact, diplomacy and negotiating skills
- the ability to analyse written and statistical information
- good observational skills for examining property, legal documents and statistics
- the ability to work in a team and coordinate the work of others
- computer skills
- the ability to work under pressure.
What opportunities are there?
You would usually work for local authorities, but could also find employment with other organisations such as development corporations and health authorities. As more local authorities are contracting out much of the work of their estate departments, you could also find work in the private sector.
You are likely to have better promotion prospects in larger departments in local authorities and other government/government-supported organisations – you may be able to progress to estates manager or specialise in a particular area of the work.
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
