Commercial Property Manager

What makes us excited to come to work each day?

Thousands of people live and work in our buildings, and at Africrest we believe that how we manage them has a ripple effect on the economy and society. When our buildings are managed exceptionally well, our tenants are happier and more productive.

You'll be part of

A company that owns one of South Africa's largest middle-income residential portfolios and has become a leader in this asset class.

We give people the chance to live in great areas with world-class facilities at affordable rentals, helping create an inclusive society.

We also own and manage a diverse commercial portfolio of office, retail and industrial properties. We make sure our tenants work in great environments so they can focus on growing their businesses which helps grow the economy.

At Africrest, we don't settle for satisfactory. From small tasks to large projects, we strive for excellence. If you want to work in a culture that drives you to be your best, we'd love to meet you.

We reward great efforts

Over the past two years, over 95% of our team received:

• A bonus larger than a 13th cheque

• An inflation-related annual increase

Even when many companies weren't paying bonuses or increases.

We are different

We don't pigeonhole people. By encouraging curiosity, collaboration and innovation, we empower our team to excel in their roles, grow professionally and contribute to Africrest's ongoing success.

We even encourage candidates to speak to our employees to hear why they love working here.

Position Purpose

The Commercial Property Manager oversees all administrative, financial and operational activities for properties under management. This includes tenant, service provider and contractor relations; lease administration; MDA data management; utilities and accounts management; and proactive property maintenance.

Key Responsibilities

Daily

• Respond to property owner, tenant and service provider matters within one day.

• Resolve rental, utility, rates, interest and maintenance queries promptly.

• Ensure all actions align with company processes and lease terms.

• Investigate and resolve tenant issues effectively.

• Complete rental and charge reconciliations daily.

• File all relevant correspondence.

Vacancies

• Handle enquiries from "To Let" boards and brokers.

• Show available spaces and follow up with leads.

• Update vacancy schedules monthly and upload listings to online platforms.

• Ensure vacant spaces are white-boxed to company standards.

• Assist in creating leasing brochures.

Lease Administration

• Prepare offers to lease and ensure documentation is signed and filed promptly.

• Conduct tenant credit checks via TPN and obtain approvals from management.

• Draft and finalise lease agreements, addendums and cessions.

• Verify MDA lease details match signed agreements.

• Collect and file FICA documentation per POPI.

• Load tenants on MDA and ensure invoicing before occupation.

• Track early lease renewals.

Operations

• Handle all maintenance and operational issues in the portfolio.

• Conduct monthly inspections of each property.

• Source, evaluate and recommend service provider quotes.

• Negotiate and conclude service provider contracts.

• Issue work orders and supervise completion.

• Notify stakeholders of incidents and ongoing work.

• Support due diligence processes for new acquisitions.

General Administration

• Assist the Head of Property Management with admin needs.

• Arrange and minute meetings with tenants when required.

• Secure debit order instructions from tenants.

• Maintain property and tenant filing per POPI.

• Follow company processes as outlined in the Property Management Manual.

• Update the "bus manual" with daily tasks, building information and tenant contacts.

• Support updates to the company website.

Monthly Responsibilities

Take-on and Handover

• Follow company procedures for property transfers, including tenant communication and service provider setup or termination.

• Capture all new property, owner and tenant data on MDA.

• Add new tenants to portfolio contact lists.

Financial

• Monitor arrears and send LODs by the 4th of each month.

• Escalate arrears over 30 days to management.

• Liaise with property administrators on ad-hoc tenant charges.

• Review and approve pre-billing (rent, utilities, rates, parking, escalations).

• Approve ad-hoc invoices for services and maintenance.

• Manage debtor recoveries and legal handovers per company policy.

Management Reports

• Resolve owner statement queries and provide feedback within the same month.

• Ensure all recoveries are loaded per lease terms.

General

• Maintain tenant communication and parking schedules.

• Support any ad-hoc portfolio matters as needed.

Annual Responsibilities

• Assist with property budgets and annual escalations.

• Track leases expiring within the next 18 months.

• Adjust municipal rate recoveries by mid-August each year.

• Audit leases for rental and recovery accuracy.

• Archive tenant and building files per POPI compliance.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years' experience in property management.

• Relevant property management qualification preferred.

• Excellent written, verbal and organisational skills.

• Strong numeracy and financial acumen.

• Computer literacy with solid knowledge of MDA.

• Adaptability to changing environments and workloads.

• Customer-focused attitude and sensitivity to tenant needs.

• Willingness to work additional hours when required.