Salaries and Costs
Property recruiters in Glasgow place people from entry level to senior leadership, and pay varies by role. Lettings administrators often earn around £21,000 to £25,000, with lettings negotiators at £22,000 to £28,000 plus commission. Property managers tend to earn between £26,000 and £35,000, while senior managers earn between £32,000 and £40,000. Facilities managers in larger estates or multi-site portfolios can earn £35,000 to £50,000, and chartered surveyors can earn £35,000 to £55,000 or more, depending on sector and chartered status. Temps such as viewing agents and reception cover usually run £12 to £16 per hour, with maintenance coordinators at £13 to £18 per hour. Most staffing agencies work on contingent terms for permanent roles, with recruitment fees in the 12% to 20% band of first-year salary, while executive search for heads of estates or asset management can be 20% to 30%. Temp agency costs include pay rates, holiday pay, employer costs, and a margin, and payment terms are often 14 to 30 days.
Qualifications
For lettings and management roles, the ARLA Propertymark study is widely valued, and SafeAgent knowledge helps in compliant practice. Surveyors usually come through an RICS-accredited route and complete the APC. Facilities leaders may hold IWFM credentials, and health and safety qualifications such as IOSH or NEBOSH are often helpful when the job involves reactive maintenance and contractor control. Strong Glasgow recruiters will screen for CRM skills in Reapit, Qube, or MRI, along with a driving licence for viewings and inspections.
Regional or geographic variations
The City Centre and Merchant City lean towards commercial agency and property management, with West End stock heavy on student accommodation and premium rentals. Finnieston and Pacific Quay draw mixed-use and PBSA roles, and the Clyde Gateway and East End continue to see regeneration. Hiring can span Hillington Park, Glasgow Business Park, and out to Eurocentral, so candidates who can cover the Central Belt and work near the M8, M74, and M77 stand out. Proximity to Glasgow Central, Queen Street, and the Subway shortens travel time for viewings and contractor meets.
Hiring challenges
Agencies report busy cycles around the summer and the late-summer student intake, which squeezes diaries for check-ins and HMO work. Retention can be tested by weekend rotas, out-of-hours calls, and high case loads, so recruiters look for people with calm communication and time management. Experience with Scottish tenancy processes, client money rules, and deposit schemes helps reduce early attrition. A clean driving record, rapid referencing, and PVG checks where roles touch vulnerable tenants can speed starts.
Entry requirements
Lettings assistants and coordinators often move in from customer service and retail, bringing phone handling and diary control. Negotiators benefit from a driving licence and a record of viewings and offers, which can lead to progression. Property managers usually show end-to-end case handling, repair triage, contractor liaison, and arrears control. Surveying roles call for degree-level study and structured training. Facilities roles value vendor management and budget tracking, as well as CAFM exposure.
Roles and career paths
Candidates can grow from a lettings support into a negotiator, senior negotiator, property manager, senior property manager, and branch manager. In block management, assistants progress into property managers and then into regional roles. Facilities coordinators move into FM, then area or cluster management. Surveyors can specialise in valuation, building surveying, or commercial agency, then step into asset management. Good recruitment consultants will brief on progression routes, salary steps, and what training will help move up faster.
Seasonal trends or themes
Letting volumes peak from late spring through September, with student move-ins driving pressure across the West End and City Centre. Winter brings reactive maintenance spikes, so businesses often add temps for contractor calls and emergency triage. Budget setting in Q1 leads to estates and FM vacancies across public sector and corporate portfolios, and that is when employers refresh job descriptions and review recruitment fees.
Key sectors or employers in the region
Housing associations and registered social landlords create steady demand for property management, compliance, and customer contact posts. Universities and PBSA operators hire for lettings, onsite teams, and HMO processes. Commercial agency, surveying, and investment teams support offices, retail, and industrial stock across Greater Glasgow and the M8 corridor. Build-to-rent is a steady-growth story, and service-charge knowledge is useful for mixed-use sites. Local employers often ask recruiters for candidates who know Glasgow City Council processes and can work across G, PA, and ML postcodes.
Regulatory or compliance standards
In Scotland, private residential tenancy rules differ from the rest of the UK, so knowledge of notices and renewals is important. Letting agents must be registered with the Scottish Government, provide client money protection, and charge transparent fees. HMO licensing sits with Glasgow City Council, and gas safety, EPC, legionella awareness, and repairing standard checks are regular tasks in management roles. Recruiters screen for AML awareness in sales and for deposit protection practice via SafeDeposits Scotland. Right to Rent checks apply in England, not in Scotland, so agencies brief new starters on the correct Scottish checks.
Common job roles agencies recruit for in this area
Hiring spans lettings administrator, tenancy progression, viewing agent, negotiator, property manager, senior property manager, repairs coordinator, service charge accountant, block manager, FM coordinator, facilities manager, surveyor, asset manager, and branch manager. Employers often ask staffing agencies for short-term cover during peak move-ins, and for permanent hires when a new site launches.
Hard to fill positions
Experienced property managers with knowledge of Scottish legislation, RICS chartered surveyors, service charge specialists, and facilities managers with technical know-how take longer to appoint. Recruiters narrow search maps to rail-linked locations, consider temp-to-perm routes, and use executive search for heads of estates and senior asset roles when the brief is tight.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
What recruitment fees do property recruiters charge in Glasgow?
Most permanent fees range from 12% to 20% of first-year salary, with executive search at 20% to 30%.
Do agencies handle temporary, permanent, and contract work?
Yes, most recruitment agencies cover temp, permanent, and contract work and can arrange temp-to-perm.
How can local employers speed up a hire?
Provide a clear brief, confirm pay rates, streamline interviews, and allow fast referencing and start dates.
What compliance should candidates expect in Scotland?
Expect checks on letting agent registration, client money processes, HMO knowledge where relevant, and deposit protection practice.
Do agencies work with small businesses as well as large employers?
Yes, employment firms support independent agents, property companies, housing bodies, and large corporates.
Can job seekers register with more than one agency?
Yes, candidates can register with an agency of their choice, but keep communication clear to avoid duplicate applications.
What are typical temp pay rates for property support staff?
Viewing agents and reception cover often earn £12 to £16 per hour, while maintenance coordinators earn £13 to £18 per hour.
Where in Glasgow sees the most property activity right now?
The City Centre, Merchant City, West End, and regeneration zones around the Clyde see steady hiring across management, lettings, and FM.