From voluntary work with the homeless, to office-based administrative work, to dealing with customers face to face; there is a job suited for a number of different skill sets and competencies. Whatever part you play in the industry, it is also tremendously rewarding, as you know that you’re helping people and families find their perfect home.

Job roles vary from organisation to organisation due to factors such as their size and housing stock, but here are 7 typical professions found within the industry:

Housing Manager

If you have a lot of experience in the housing industry, you could find yourself working as a Housing Manager, and earning somewhere between £30,000 and £50,000 per year. In this position, you will find yourself responsible for managing a number of different aspects, and consequently excellent industry knowledge is fundamental to the job role. A Housing Manager is often responsible for evaluating the overall housing needs of a particular community, looking after all financial aspects, and overseeing all exchanges.

Housing Officer

A Housing Officer usually reports to a Housing Manager, and typically looks after a number of properties within a specific location. They tend to take home approximately £22,000 to £30,000 per year, and must have excellent communication, negotiation, and management skills. A Housing Officer is responsible for duties such as dealing with difficult tenant enquiries, inspecting and maintaining their properties, and ensuring that rent is paid on time.

Housing Assistant

A Housing Assistant is more of an entry level position within the housing industry, and is a great option for graduates or for somebody wishing to enter into a completely new career path. This role is mainly administrative, so organisation and attention to detail are paramount. Housing Assistants also often deal with customer service enquiries, and typically earn approximately £18,000 per yea

Tenant Arrears Officer

A Tenant Arrears Officer main job role is to ensure that tenants are paying their rent. This is not as vicious as it may sound, as they often provide helpful advice and work closely with tenants who are unable to pay rent; informing them of any financial benefits they may be entitled to, for example. Job duties include negotiating an agreement with tenants to ensure the money is paid back over a certain period of time, or taking legal action if needs be. An Arrears Officer can take home anywhere between £23,000 and £32,000 per year, based on experience.

Surveyor

Whilst there are different types of surveyors, they all work to ensure that housing projects are safe and sustainable. A surveyor can be responsible for undertaking valuations of land or buildings, all the way down to valuations of antiques or fine art. They advise clients about technical, legal and environmental matters, so extensive knowledge of the industry is essential. Site visits are common for a surveyor, and you will find yourselves looking out for a whole host of issues – be it damp, electrical wiring, plumbing, or even legal aspects such as planning permission restrictions – so an eye for detail is fundamental. The salary varies with experience, but usually falls between £21,000 and £32,000 per year.

Conveyancing Solicitor

A Conveyancing Solicitor typically deals with the legal aspects or property transfer between two parties and the granting of a mortgage. Again, salary is dependent on experience, but a good Conveyancing Solicitor can take home anywhere between £35,000 and £50,000 per year.

Estate Agent

This is probably the first job role people think of when the housing industry is mentioned, and that is why I’ve placed it last in this list of professions. Estate Agents often meet customers face to face, so excellent communication skills are vital for this job role. This position will include visiting properties and surrounding properties to ensure the client gets the property for a fair price. As well as buying and selling properties for their company, they also manage rental properties (which has been a massive growth area over recent years). This job role can be entry level, all the way up to senior level and, consequently, the salary can lie anywhere between £15,000 and upwards of £50,000 per year.

Author Bio:

This article was written by property expert James Johnson from Atlantis Property – an estate and letting agent based in Reading.