Handyman jobs in Herne Bay

We are looking for a reliable, practical and proactive Property Caretaker & Maintenance Technician to provide on-the-ground support across our portfolio of approximately 100 properties.

This is a hands-on role focused primarily on keeping our properties clean, tidy, safe and well looked after, while supporting our busy property management team with inspections, gardening, tenant changeovers, viewings and other practical property-related tasks.

The role will include basic DIY and maintenance troubleshooting, but you will not be expected to undertake skilled or specialist maintenance work. Instead, we are looking for someone who can identify issues, resolve straightforward problems where appropriate and provide clear information, photos and updates to our property management team so that specialist contractors can be instructed when required.

You will spend much of your working time out and about at our properties and will need to be comfortable working independently and managing a varied workload.

You must be a team player, reliable and approachable with tenants and contractors, and someone who can be relied upon to do what they say they will do.

Good technology skills are essential for this role. You will regularly use your mobile phone and different apps while out at properties to receive and manage tasks, communicate with the property management team, take and upload photographs, complete property records and inspections, and provide updates on work carried out. You must therefore be confident learning and using mobile applications as part of your day-to-day work.

Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

Property Caretaking & Upkeep

• Carry out general gardening and basic grounds maintenance to keep gardens and external areas tidy and presentable.
• Carry out cleaning at properties and communal areas where required.
• Monitor the condition and cleanliness of communal areas, entrances, hallways, bin areas and external spaces.
• Assist with bin and waste management and report or help coordinate the removal of bulky waste.
• Help prepare properties and rooms between tenancies, ensuring they are clean, tidy and ready for incoming tenants.
• Replace basic consumable items such as light bulbs and batteries where required.
• Collect and manage post from properties where required.

Basic Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Carry out straightforward DIY and minor maintenance tasks that do not require a specialist trade.
• Investigate basic maintenance issues and resolve simple problems where appropriate.
• Carry out minor tasks such as tightening or replacing handles, replacing toilet seats, adjusting simple fittings, assembling furniture and other basic repairs.
• Check reported maintenance issues, take appropriate photos or videos and provide clear information to the property management team.
• Identify when an issue requires a specialist contractor and report this promptly rather than attempting work outside your level of competence.
• Provide access to properties for contractors where required and assist with checking or reporting on completed work.

Property Inspections & Compliance Support

• Conduct routine property and communal-area inspections and report any concerns or required actions.
• Carry out scheduled fire safety checks, including fire alarm testing.
• Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries where appropriate.
• Identify and report potential hazards, defects, damage or safety concerns.
• Look out for issues such as leaks, damp, mould, pest activity, property damage, trip hazards and deterioration.
• Take photographs and maintain accurate records of inspections and checks as required.
• Escalate any compliance or safety concerns promptly to the property management team.

Tenancy & Property Management Support

• Assist with tenant check-ins and check-outs.
• Carry out property and room inspections as part of tenant changeovers.
• Take photographs and assist with inventories and property condition records.
• Take and record meter readings.
• Support property viewings for prospective tenants when required.
• Assist with keys, locks and key safes, including collection and delivery of keys where required.
• Support with post collection and postage when needed
• Help maintain accurate records relating to property keys and access.
• Attend properties for urgent on-the-ground checks where required and report back to the property management team.
• Provide straightforward on-site support to tenants and escalate issues that require further action.

Reporting & Team Support

• Provide clear and timely updates on completed tasks and any issues identified at properties.
• Take before-and-after photographs where appropriate.
• Report problems or failures promptly upon discovery.
• Keep accurate records of inspections, meter readings, fire safety checks, maintenance issues and completed tasks.
• Communicate effectively with the property management team, tenants and contractors.
• Attend relevant team meetings when required.
• Carry out planned tasks within agreed timescales and keep the team informed if a task cannot be completed as expected.

Requirements

• Previous experience in property maintenance, caretaking, facilities management or a similar practical role would be advantageous.
• Must have access to a car and be able to travel between properties.
• Must be comfortable carrying out general DIY, basic maintenance, cleaning and gardening tasks.
• Good technology skills and confidence using a smartphone and mobile applications are ESSENTIAL.
• Practical, hands-on approach with good problem-solving skills.
• Able to recognise when a maintenance issue requires a specialist contractor rather than attempting work outside your level of competence.
• Reliable, proactive and able to work independently.
• Good attention to detail and able to spot potential property or maintenance issues.
• Good organisation and time-management skills.
• Approachable and able to communicate politely and professionally with a wide variety of tenants, contractors and team members.
• Comfortable using WhatsApp and other basic technology for communication, photographs, task updates and record keeping.
• Able to follow procedures and instructions, particularly in relation to property safety and compliance.
• Willing to carry out a varied range of practical tasks and support the wider property management team where required.

How to apply

Please submit your application through Indeed, including your CV and cover letter.

To show us that you have read the full job specification carefully, please include the following message at the end of your cover letter:

“PS. This is proof that I have thoroughly read and understood the job specification.”

Applications without this message may not be considered.

Introduction to Property Strategy & Tomes Homes

Tomes Homes (www.tomeshomes.com) is a small property investment company based in Kent, England, which started in 2014, when the founder Jackie, scraped together the deposit to buy an investment property in South-East London for £108,500 and refurbished it and rented it out alongside her day job in market research. From these humble beginnings the portfolio has since grown to over £18M deals done raising over £7M from investors to over 100 homes managed across 4 key locations across the UK.

We are focused on FREEDOM through everything that we do. Whether that's supporting our investors to create financial freedom by investing with us, our clients to set up their businesses in a way that can give them time freedom, or with our team by getting the right people in the best roles for them so they can be given the autonomy to do what they do best from wherever they want to do it (we are 100% virtual).

You can find out more about us, the journey and the vibe and vision we have through our top 10 charting podcast (Property Lifestyle Mastery Podcast), and Amazon number one selling book (Focus Your Way to Freedom).

We are a small but ambitious team, that is driving to lead the way in the industry in everything that we do. We are first & foremost a family business, so we have very strong family values at the core of our business and team. The team is based across the UK, the Philippines and South Africa - 100% virtual, and we focus on finding the right people to join our team who can really excel in their roles, with a strong belief in autonomy, personal accountability and freedom.

We have very high standards of every team member, and we can promise you that you will be challenged to grow, learn and improve, with the confidence that we will support you through all that you do. We have a big culture of personal development and will always want you to be continuing to become the best that you can be. You will want to be someone who wants to be pushed to grow and improve in both your professional role and as a person – we want someone who enjoys this challenge, and who appreciates the candid feedback that we share with each other to help us all to do this.

Pay: £15.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25.0 per week

Application question(s):

• Do you have access to a car and are able to travel between properties within Thanet?

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: In person