Business Support hiring needs in Real Estate.
After a period of cautious growth, the UK property sector is firing on all cylinders again - and it’s not just your front‑line Sales and Lettings teams that need reinforcements. From boutique estate agencies to large Build‑to‑Rent operators, I’m seeing positive sentiment in the market with businesses also looking to bolster their Business Support functions: finance, administration, compliance, marketing support and more.
At GKR International, we’ve seen a marked uptick in vacancies for those all‑important behind‑the‑scenes roles. But with demand climbing and the right candidates still scarce and more difficult to attract through your usual direct channels, hiring managers need to act smarter, and faster, if they want to win the talent war.
What’s happening in Business Support across Real Estate?
- Finance & Accounts Assistants – You need people who understand rent rolls, credit control, service‑charge reconciliation and basic property accounting software.
- Office & Sales & Lettings Administrators – Processing applications, drafting tenancy agreements and keeping data accurate has never been more critical.
- Compliance & Operations Coordinators– From Right‑to‑Rent checks to fire‑safety documentation, back office system management, bringing in new tech and IT, the regulatory burden and demand for AI tools.
- Marketing Support & CRM Specialists – Businesses want staff who can keep listings fresh, run email campaigns and maintain their PropTech stacks, whilst boosting their visibility across the market to stand out amongst the rest.
- PAs & Project‑Support Roles – BTR and refurbishment programmes need coordinators to liaise between contractors, residents and head office and CEO's and COO's require one-to-one support to manage their constantly shifting and demanding days.
Across small and large businesses alike, these roles are being opened in record numbers: we’re up nearly 30 percent year‑on‑year in Business Support postings, with particular concentration in London, Manchester, Birmingham and the wider Middle East.
Two key hiring challenges:
- Talent shortages are real: While there’s plenty of interest in the property sector, candidates with genuine software literacy (think Yardi, Reapit, Arthur, Goodlord, Xero, Sage, etc) and solid compliance know‑how remain in short supply.
- Speed & candidate experience matter: A slow, unclear recruitment process isn’t just frustrating - it’s a deal‑breaker nowadays. Quality Business Support professionals have multiple offers on the table and more choice than ever; it’s competitive on both sides, and they aren’t afraid to walk away if you hesitate.
Three pieces of advice for Hiring Managers:
1. Streamline your process:
- Aim for no more than two interview stages.
- Be transparent about salary bands and progression pathways up‑front.
- Use digital assessments or short exercises (e.g. a mock data‑entry task) to gauge core skills quickly or partner with a recruiter to do the basics right and do all the first stage screening for you. Let’s prioritise smooth and efficient processes but never compromise on the quality or cut corners.
2. Embrace transferable talent:
- Don’t dismiss a great office manager from another sector and be open to transferable skills. Their organisational skills, professionalism and software aptitude often transfer seamlessly into property.
- Invest in on‑the‑job training for sector‑specific tools - hire for character, aptitude and attitude first.
3. Promote career development:
- Highlight pathways from Administration Assistant → Office Manager → Operations Coordinator as an example!
- Offer compliance and software‑certification training budgets or invest in upskilling talent to gain better long-term buy-in and bolster retention.
- Showcase internal opportunities to get involved in specific projects - e.g. owning your next marketing campaign or rolling out a new CRM system, etc.
What Business Support candidates want now:
- Flexibility – This still remains the biggest trend and motivator - Hybrid working for admin roles is no longer a “nice to have” it’s almost a must. Even 2 days remote per week can massively open up a huge untapped talent pool
- Work–Life Balance – A strict 9–5.30pm/6pm, no‑weekend ethos appeals to busy professionals juggling family and study. Please don’t add weekend rota’s for support staff if they aren’t offered additional remuneration for it.
- Transparent Pay – Outline base salary, bonus schemes, and any extra perks upfront. For Business Support roles, this is often the main form of compensation, so clarity here is crucial.
- Purpose & Stability – Many are switching from sectors hit by layoffs; they want to know your business is built to last.
Back‑office and front office support is what keeps every property business running smoothly – we know that! In today’s competitive market, the firms that win the best finance assistants, lettings Admins, PA’s, HR and Marketing whizzes, and compliance coordinators will be the ones that move with speed, hire for potential, and invest in ongoing development.
At GKR International, we’re here to help you navigate this evolving landscape - connecting you with the Business Support professionals who’ll keep your operations running smoothly. We - at our heart - are property professionals, we get the industry, we know what the market’s doing, and we can help advise you on how to stay competitive and attract the best talent. If you’re getting ready to expand your team, let’s have a chat about how to secure your next hire - fast, but never compromising quality!
Keen for more tips? Get in touch with Anuradha Deb at GKR. Let’s build a support team that helps you do what you do best.
