Estates Officer: Public Sector
The Work
Public sector estates officers are responsible for the management
of land and property belonging to local councils, health authorities
and other statutory bodies. They may specialise in lettings, acquisitions
or management.
The work includes the day-to-day management of properties, organising and monitoring of repairs and maintenance, and dealing with tenancy applications for housing and business premises. Other tasks include rent reviews and assessment, checking returns on investment, ensuring properties are being used appropriately and keeping up to date with land management and environmental issues.
Buying and selling property is another aspect of the work. This can involve detailed negotiations with landowners and other interested parties. In public authorities, estates officers may be concerned with, or advise on, the compulsory purchase or purchase by agreement of land.
Attending meetings, visiting sites, liaising with other departments and organisations, some financial and statistical analysis, and report writing are also part of the work.
Hours and Conditions
Estates officers work 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. In local government,
there may be some evening committee work. Flexitime, part-time work
and job sharing may be available.
The work is mostly office-based, but there is some travel for meetings and site visits.
Skills and Interests
To be an estates officer, you need:
A driving licence is essential.
Training
Three professional bodies that hold information on relevant qualifications
are the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Institute
of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) and the Architecture and
Surveying Institute (ASI).
RICS
Several routes to qualifying as a chartered surveyor are offered. All involve studying for an approved qualification. Part-time, full-time and distance learning options are available. After initial training, RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) must be passed.
RICS Diploma in Valuation is also available. Entry is with at least five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) including English and maths. Equivalent qualifications may be accepted.
IRRV
Technician-level and full professional qualifications are offered, along with qualifications relevant to the Scottish property market. These can be studied part-time, or by distance learning.
ASI *
Offers several ways to qualify as a corporate estate surveyor. The normal initial entry requirements is an honours degree. The ASI Final Entry Requirement, a two-year relevant work experience placement must then be completed.
* Please note: The ASI has merged with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) as of 31st December 2002. The CIOB has formed a new Faculty for Architecture and Surveying to accommodate the ASI. Courses previously accredited by ASI will continue to be recognised until 1st January 2006.
The College of Estate Management offers accredited courses in surveying disciplines by part-time, full-time and distance learning.
Practising estates officers may work towards NVQ / SVQ in Property Management or Housing at Level 4.
Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships (MAPPs) may be available for people aged 16-24. For details see:
MAPPs
(England)
Skillseekers
(Scotland)
National
Traineeships MAPPs (Wales) and
MAPPs
(Northern Ireland)
Opportunities
Most estates officers work in local government. Development corporations,
health authorities and government bodies also offer opportunities.
Promotion prospects in local authorities and other government / government-supported organisations depend very much on the size and scope of the department; the larger departments normally have clearly defined promotion structures.
Increasingly, local authorities are contracting out much of the work undertaken by their estate departments, so positions are becoming available in the private sector.
Salary
The annual income section is intended as a guideline only.
Income for estates officers varies considerably depending on qualifications and responsibilities.
Technician and lower grade estates officers can earn between £16,000
to £27,000 a year.
Experienced senior officers can earn around £31,500 a year.
Heads of units, specialist areas or departments can earn around £43,000
a year.
Further Information
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Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Tel: 0870 333 1600
www.rics.org.uk
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Scotland
Tel: 0131 225 7078
www.rics-scotland.org.uk
Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation
Tel: 020 7831 3505
www.irrv.org.uk
Faculty for Architecture and Surveying
Tel: 01344 630798
www.ciob.org.uk
The College of Estate Management
Tel: 0118 986 1101
www.cem.ac.uk
