Different types of apartment manager jobs include both on- and off-site apartment management as well as management or executive positions within larger property management firms. In some cases, a real estate agent or broker may also assume apartment management duties. The responsibilities of apartment management vary according to landlord needs as well as the size of the apartment building or complex at which the manager works.
Residential apartment manager jobs are typically held by someone who actually lives in the building or on the property that he or she manages. In some cases, a resident may be selected for the role of manager by his or her landlord because he or she has lived in the building for a long time and is considered by the landlord to be a reliable person. In other cases, a landlord or property management company may prefer to hire people with property management and handyman skills for these apartment manager jobs. A common arrangement is for the residential manager to receive free or discounted rent in exchange for performing specific duties, which may include collecting rent from other residents, showing units to potential tenants, and performing general cleaning and maintenance work.
Other on-site apartment management jobs require the manager to maintain an office on the property, even if he doesn’t live there. This arrangement is more common in very large high-rise buildings or multi-building complexes. The duties of these apartment manager jobs are often more complex than those held by resident managers of smaller properties. An on-site manager may be responsible for hiring and working with outside contractors, such as landscaping firms and repair crews, as well as accepting and approving rental applications and, when necessary, facilitating evictions.
Some apartment managers work out of a centralized office rather than on individual properties. Landlords and property managers may hire staff to manage all aspects of apartment management, including collecting rents, processing applications, and taking reports about needed repairs. Some real estate brokers may also assume responsibility for managing the buildings owned by their clients, particularly if the building owner has moved out of state and is hoping to sell the property.
The qualifications to become an apartment manager depend largely on the type of property that a person will be managing as well as his job duties. Some jurisdictions require property managers to be licensed or registered with a government authority and may also set special minimum-wage laws for those who hold resident apartment manager jobs. Others may require an apartment manager or property manager to hold a real estate broker’s license, particularly if the manager shows the properties to prospective tenants or negotiates leases.
