DAVID McLENNAN
***********@*****.***
Edinburgh
A self-motivated and dynamic strategic thinker, with an articulate and
outgoing personality and solid customer relationship management skills.
People-oriented and adaptable, with lengthy, wide-ranging and successful
experience in property development, refurbishment and maintenance,
residential management, lettings and estate agency, and qualifications
including the Level 3 ARLA (NFOPP) Qualifications in Residential Management
and Lettings, Sales, and a post-graduate Diploma in Housing and Urban
Regeneration from Heriot Watt University.
Experience in project management for refurbishment and development work,
with a long-standing involvement in property management legislation and
issues, I am a registered landlord with City of Edinburgh Council, an
accredited Landlord with the Scottish Association of Landlords and up-to-
date with recent legislation in both Property management and Estate Agency.
Career Experience
October 2012 - current - Project Manager, private client refurbishment.
On behalf of a private landlord based in Taiwan, managed a comprehensive
refurbishment of flat and upgraded habitable accommodation from two
bedrooms to three, compliant with Building Warrant and HMO criteria,
involving multiple trades and professions, from achieving vacant possession
of an assured tenancy through to re-letting as a Short Assured tenancy with
a 50% rental uplift.
June 2012-current - Property Consultant, Craigflower Lettings, Edinburgh.
Working voluntarily until a permanent position is achieved, I have been
involved in arranging and overseeing maintenance, viewings, meetings with
Landlords and tenants, preparing leases and documents and all other aspects
of property management, and with the strategic growth of the business.
April 2012-May 2012 (Temporary Contract) Orchard & Shipman Ltd- Property
Technical Inspector -Inspecting end-of tenancies, making-up works orders
for damage/refurbishment, reporting to Property and Board Directors on
strategy and procedural matters concerning private rental sector tenancies.
Short-term sickness cover contract only
September 2010 - April 2012 - Diploma in Housing and Urban Regeneration,
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Graduation June 2012
This course included two twelve-week placements, at CastleRockEdinvar
Housing Association, Edinburgh, and City of Edinburgh Council's Services
for Communities Edinburgh West Office at Gorgie Road, Edinburgh. In both
cases, I found that my experience, maturity and credibilitylent themselves
to being given portfolio's of work to assess, determine and rationalise,
which I managed succesfully.
June 2008-August 2010 : As a self-employed Tenancy Purchase Adviser on the
Right-to-Buy Scheme, I worked in both North and South Lanarkshire and in
Newcastle, providing advice and assistance for tenants to purchase their
homes. This involved extensive face-to-face remote working, meetings with
customers in their own homes, understanding their circumstances and
proferring the appropriate solutions to aid their home ownership
objectives.
December 2007-June 2008 : Property Manager, Excelet Ltd.
In this position, I was tasked with managing a private portfolio of 160
properties. Duties included reporting to the Board of Directors, training
and advising staff and landlords, running a 7-person office and ensuring
profitability. I undertook a review of the existing office infrastructure,
including an overhaul of the existing maintenance team's work-practices,
making them more efficient and accountable. These led to happier, more
productive staff, with improved efficiency and effectiveness.
April 2007-December 2007 : Property Manager for Sommerville and Russell,
Solicitors.
(Maternity leave cover)
My position here was to oversee and run the Property sale and lettings
department of one of Edinburgh's "big five" Solicitor/Estate Agents, from
their Musselburgh office. I oversaw seven staff in two offices, as well as
taking-on and negotiating for sale of Properties.
October 2006 - April 2007 : Travelled solo around the World.
Took time out to travel to twelve different destinations, staying in
hotels, camper-vans and wigwams, and travelling by train, plane and thumb.
I gained a new perspective on life, and realised that the same problems and
opportunities exist throughout the globe, albeit on different levels.
January 2000-October 2006 :
Dragonfly Developments Limited. I formed this Company to deal specifically
with the advent of the new Houses in Multiple Occupancy Standards in
Scotland,overseeing a multi-disciplinary team upgrading properties to
comply with the new regulations, and we successfully completed around 70
properties in the first two years of trading.
August 1985-January 2000 : Greyfriars Property Services, Edinburgh.
Was Founding Proprietor of a radical Property Management Company. Located
in the City Centre, near to a major (Edinburgh) University, I promoted a
niche market for Student Mortgages, in conjunction with the Bank of
Scotland, and as an Appointed Representative for Standard Life, as well as
a large Festival Accommodation section. In it's heyday, I was the largest
producer for Standard Life in the Lothians area, through the success of
this scheme. In addition, I oversaw the management of 480 (peak) flats and
nine members of staff across four offices.
Throughout the years in the Private rented sector, I have concentrated on
adding value to portfolios through innovation and forward-thinking.
I have had hands-on experience in preparing land for sale through to
Planning Permission and disposal, and have experience of all aspects of
the day-to-day business of private lettings, including leases,
vertification, registration, compliance and the repairs and maintenance
regime.
Other information :
Member of "Edinburgh's Got Soul" Gospel/Soul choir
Volunteer Mentor : Mentoring Long-term unemployed clients to increase
their self-esteem and confidence in preparation for seeking work;
Rock Trust Nightstop Programme : Volunteer host for young people fleeing
homelessness or domestic violence, acting as a buffer to allow a means of
dispute resolution
Full Driving Licence
Section 6 : References - Available on request.