Locum Solicitor - Head Of Landlord & Tenant

A leading property management firm is seeking an experienced Landlord & Tenant Solicitor to join its team as Head of Department on a locum basis in Southend-On-Sea, Essex. This position will cover maternity leave. This role offers the opportunity to lead a specialist legal function, manage a team and provide expert advice across a broad range of landlord and tenant matters.

Role

• Managing and supervising the day‑to‑day operation of the department
• Handling a varied caseload of landlord and tenant matters
• Providing strategic and practical legal advice to landlords, property managers and internal teams
• Advising on residential tenancy matters, possession proceedings, lease issues and tenancy disputes
• Managing complex disputes and litigation where required
• Reviewing and drafting legal documents, notices and correspondence
• Supporting negotiations and dispute resolution with tenants and third parties
• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and best practice
• Providing guidance, mentoring and support to junior team members
• Working closely with property management teams to deliver commercially focused solutions
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes and enhance service delivery

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with strong experience in Landlord & Tenant law
• Strong knowledge of residential landlord and tenant legislation and procedures
• Experience handling possession claims, tenancy disputes and related matters
• Ability to manage a varied and complex caseload independently
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• Commercially minded with the ability to provide practical advice
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively
• Experience working within a property, housing or property management environment would be advantageous