Residential Credit Controller

Do you have a CREDIT CONTROL or debt recovery background gained within RESIDENTIAL property management?

This role provides you with the opportunity to become an expert within residential litigation and would suit a paralegal with credit control experience and an understanding of residential law. Here you will be supporting legal teams and assisting in collecting documents in the event of rent-related litigation cases. The role requires a blend of financial, administrative, and legal awareness as well as excellent negotiation skills. To be successful, you also need very human attributes such as empathy and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels and especially the ability to communicate calmly with people under severe personal or financial stress.

Title: Legal Credit Controller (Residential property)
Location: London
Salary: £35,000 – £45,000 for the right person with relevant experience
Work style: On site (potentially hybrid after probation)
Essential experience: Credit control background within property and residential context

Summary

As a Credit Controller working within a residential property context, you will play a vital role in managing and collecting payments (typically rents and service charges) and ensuring the landlord, property owner, or property management company maintains healthy cash flow. The role is regarded as a key appointment and in this position, you will help to maintain positive cash flow for the property business, minimize bad debt and ensure compliance with tenancy agreements and financial processes. In order to do this effectively, you will work with your clients with thoughtfulness, empathy and at all times strive to help the tenants to get back on track.

Duties

You will be supporting the internal legal teams and assisting in collecting documents in the event of litigation. The role requires a blend of financial, administrative, and legal awareness as well as excellent negotiation skills. To be successful you also need empathy and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels and also those under severe personal stress.

• Credit control and debt collection

• Issue polite reminder Letters / Notices of Arrears to tenants
• Communicate effectively with tenants and work with empathy using negotiating skills to communicate with tenants about overdue rent or service charges
• Attempt to create goodwill and support the tenants by creating new payment plans / Arrears Agreements
• Work to debt collection financial targets
• Stay on top of current caseload and oversee and monitor Rent Schedules / Statements of Accounts / tenant payment history / arrears, and payment due dates

Go legal

• Manage documentation around litigation dates
• Issue formal notice prior to eviction proceedings
• Manage Court Documentation (Claims forms (e.g. N5, N119), possession orders, hearing notices)
• Manage FTT (First-tier Tribunal) Applications (used in service charge disputes) and deadlines
• Produce all legal correspondence and track legal fees and costs recoveries
• Issue instructions for litigation, sharing evidence or financial records

Case Reporting

• Create Client Reports / Debt Recovery Status Reports and provide regular monthly updates to Estates Directors/Clients as cases progress
• Attend property management weekly meetings for updates
• Prepare witness statements & case statements as required for FTT and County Court cases

Essential Requirements

• Credit control or debt recovery experience (typically 1-3 years minimum)
• Experience in residential property management, housing associations, or lettings (very desirable)
• Experience preparing for or supporting court proceedings or First-tier Tribunal (FTT) case
• ASTs (Assured Shorthold Tenancies) and rent legislation
• An understanding of service charges, lease terms, and ground rent structures

Would be useful to have: (not essential)

• IRPM (Institute of Residential Property Management) or ARLA qualifications (beneficial for housing/property professionals)
• Legal admin or paralegal training