Estates officer

Estates officers manage the upkeep of land and property, like hospitals, council buildings, historical sites and country parks.

Also known as: Real estate manager

• Starter salary£27,000 a year
• Experienced£55,000 a year
• Typical hours38 to 40 a week

What you'll do

As an estates officer, you could:

• deal with tenancy applications and agreements
• set and review rent levels
• negotiate with suppliers and service companies
• organise work like building repairs, cleaning and recycling
• work closely with estate owners
• analyse financial data and manage a budget
• write and present reports for the senior management teams
• keep up to date with building controls and environmental regulations

Working environment

You could work in an office.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• leadership skills
• business and project management skills
• customer service skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of economics and accounting
• the ability to work well with others
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a estates officer

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

• facilities management
• building services engineering
• surveying
• construction management

You can also do a qualification in real estate by distance learning through the University of the Built Environment .

You can complete courses full time or part time. Flexible study may be an option if you're already working in the industry.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a property management company or public body like the NHS. Schemes include:

• Facilities Management Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Facilities Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These can take around 2 years to complete and combine workplace training and study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Direct application

You can apply directly for jobs if you have experience and qualifications in a related career like property management, building services, health and safety or surveying.

Restrictions and requirements

A driving licence may be needed for some jobs to travel between sites.

Career path and progression

With experience, you may be able to become an estates manager or specialise in a particular area, such as:

• rural estates
• charities or housing associations
• heritage or conservation sites
• health service and local authority buildings

Public sector bodies often hire commercial companies to handle their estate work. This means there may be opportunities to move between the private and the public sector.

Career tips

This job can vary depending on where you work. As an example, working in a local authority will be different to working for a conservation or heritage organisation.

Guides for this industry

• Administration: pay, interviews and getting started →

Related roles

• Job roleFacilities manager
• Job roleLand and property valuer and auctioneer
• Job roleGeneral practice surveyor
• Job roleBuilding services engineer

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0