Senior Solicitor - Home Ownership

Senior Solicitor - Home Ownership

Application closing date: 29/06/2025 at 23:59

A bit about the role...

A rare opportunity has arisen to join Homes England’s Home Ownership legal team dealing with HM Government’s largest ever Home Ownership Product, Help to Buy Equity Loan, currently valued in excess of £15 billion and lent exclusively on new build homes.

The role will report to the Head of Legal (Home Ownership) in providing a proactive, professional legal service to Homes England to support its objectives and in particular the delivery and administration of Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme, other Equity Loan Schemes and Building Remediation Schemes such as the Cladding Safety Scheme.

A bit about you…

We are looking for a Solicitor (or FCILEX), who is flexible and motivated, keen to enhance their skills within a National government body.  You’ll excel at managing a busy, varied caseload acting within a wide range of Homes England’s Help to Buy: Equity Loan portfolio.  You will enable and support our Help to Buy programme and join a small friendly team of lawyers.

The key skills and knowledge we’re looking for are: 

Essential: 

• Qualified Solicitor with experience (3+ PQE) in either one or more of the following areas:

- Commercial Property (development acquisitions and/or plot disposals);

- Conveyancing -  acting on purchases of new build homes involving lenders;

- Consumer Credit Law.

Although the role is advertised for a Senior Solicitor, Fellows of CILEX (FCILEX) with the equivalent PQE will also be considered, albeit in the role of Senior Chartered Legal Executive. 

• Current Practising Certificate. 

• A good knowledge of residential mortgage lenders’ requirements (such as the UK Finance Lender’s Handbook).

• Experience of acting in respect of residential or commercial property mortgages/charges including acting on behalf of a lender. 

• Experience of legal service provision in a secured lending environment.

• Ability to present complex legal issues to senior stakeholders.

• Excellent verbal, written, negotiating, presentation, drafting and communication skills.

• Knowledge of risk management methodologies and experience of identifying, managing and reporting on corporate, functional and compliance risks.

• Able to be a team player and collaborate with other stakeholders, while maintaining independence.

• Able to work collaboratively with clients and internal and external stakeholders.

Preferable:

• Experience of acting on transactions involving Help to Buy: Equity Loans.

• Experience acting for developer’s and/or registered providers in respect of new build plot sales, site acquisitions and/or development charging.

• Experience of drafting property legal documentation such as Transfers, Leases, Deed of Release, Deeds of Grant/Easements etc.

• Experience of service and business planning.

• A good understanding of planning law (including Section 106 Agreements).

• Understanding of the role of an in-house lawyer in the public sector.

• Experience of leading on a project.

Who are we? 

Homes England: The Housing and Regeneration Agency

We believe that affordable, quality homes in well-designed places are key to improving people’s lives. As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas, combining the full breadth of our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built.

How? We form long-term partnerships that bridge the gap between the public and private sector to meet local needs and aspirations. We use our influence to champion the creation of sustainable homes, communities and places that are brilliantly designed for the people that live there now, and in the future. And we use our funding and support to build a more resilient, diverse and innovative housing sector, helping new entrants in the market, encouraging modern methods of construction and design, and promoting the utmost attention to building safety.

Together with our partners, we’re accelerating the pace of house building, remediation and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver ever more affordable homes in places people are proud to call home for generations to come.

What we offer... 

As well as a competitive salary and 33 days annual leave, we are committed to 50/50 hybrid working. We’ll support you, wherever possible, so that you don’t miss out on what matters to you. 

Membership of the Homes and Communities Agency Pension Scheme, which is a contributory defined benefit scheme with the amount you receive on retirement based on your salary and years worked at the Agency.

Internal applicants: please note that if you are successful, the salary you are offered will be in accordance with our pay policy. You can find details on the HR Hub SharePoint site.

If you ever need a bit of extra help, we have a great employee assistance programme, financial wellbeing support and access to many great discounts with leading high street names. 

Our range of network groups are also there to support you to be yourself at work and play a key role in helping shape our future. 

If you are a member of a professional body, we’ll pay for your membership and once you get your digital kit, you’ll be good to go. 

Homes England are a geographically diverse community. We work to a 50/50 office/ home based model. Moving back into our office environments has enabled us to utilise our space and time together in the most collaborative way. 

We would encourage all applicants to apply as soon as possible as we may close vacancies early should we receive a high number of applications. 

We also encourage you to apply using the full application option as opposed to quick apply, this is especially important if you would like to indicate to us that you would like to be considered under the disability confident scheme. 

If your application is shortlisted to interview we will require you to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at this stage.