General Manager

Lambeth, London
Deverell Smith Ltd

Role Overview

Our client is a privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and management company specialising in the residential and alternative property sectors, with an established and growing presence in the UK PRS market.

We are looking for a General Manager to take ownership of a residential building in South London, responsible for overall performance across leasing, operations, facilities, and customer experience.

This is a sole-site role – a hands-on, customer-facing position for someone who thrives on autonomy and takes real pride in the environment they manage.

Key Responsibilities

Lettings & Tenant Management

• Own the leasing strategy, conducting viewings, managing external agents, and keeping occupancy optimised
• Act as the escalation point for resident complaints, ensuring swift and effective resolution
• Manage the full tenancy lifecycle – referencing, contracts, deposits, renewals, and statutory documentation
• Monitor market conditions and provide rental rate recommendations to the Asset & Operations team
• Drive resident satisfaction, NPS, and online reviews
• Ensure rent collection and arrears management are handled efficiently
• Coordinate contractor handovers for incoming and outgoing residents
• Maintain GDPR-compliant tenant records

Facilities Management

• Manage Hard and Soft FM contractors, tracking all works instructed and completed
• Conduct annual reviews of Risk Assessments and liaise with H&S providers for FRA and H&S reports
• Supervise on-site contractors to ensure compliance with RAMS, Permit to Work procedures, and H&S legislation
• Respond to out-of-hours emergencies as required

Property Management

• Address lease breaches proactively, managing remediation through to resolution
• Ensure full legal compliance – Right to Rent, deposit management, HMO licensing
• Work with the Finance team to deliver the property on budget
• Approve invoices promptly and liaise with utility providers on void unit billing
• Compile monthly business reviews for the Asset & Mobilisation teams

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Proven experience managing a residential building or property
• Strong contractor management and coordination skills
• Excellent customer service and complaint handling ability
• Experience coaching and developing others
• Sharp attention to detail and strong organisational skills
• Confident communicator – written and verbal
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently
• Ability to respond to out-of-hours emergencies and travel to other sites when needed

Desirable

• Budget and P&L experience
• Strong track record against leasing/sales targets
• Technical knowledge of BTR operations, facilities, and H&S
• Relevant qualification (NFOPP, RICS, ARLA, ARMA, IRPM, IOSH, NEBOSH, CIBSE, CIOB, IHEEH)