17 Housing Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Housing managers are responsible for the overall operation of a housing complex. They manage staff, oversee budgets, and ensure that all residents are treated fairly and have access to the resources they need. If you’re interviewing for a housing manager job, you can expect to answer questions about your experience working with people, your management style, and your ability to handle difficult situations.

In this guide, you’ll find sample questions and answers that will help you prepare for your interview. We’ll also provide tips on how to showcase your skills and experience, so you can put your best foot forward and land the job you want.

Are you comfortable working with people from all walks of life?

Housing managers often work with people from all walks of life. They need to be able to communicate effectively and solve problems in a way that is respectful of everyone’s unique background, culture and values. A good housing manager understands the importance of treating others as they would like to be treated.

Example: “I have worked with many different types of people throughout my career. I find it interesting to learn about other cultures and backgrounds. In fact, I think it’s important for me to understand how someone else might interpret a situation or problem differently than I do. This helps me avoid misunderstandings and makes me more effective at solving problems.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a successful housing manager?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities to be successful in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest qualities that relate to the job description.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities for a housing manager are communication skills, problem-solving skills and organization skills. As a housing manager, I would need to communicate with residents, other staff members and property owners about various issues. It’s also important to have strong problem-solving skills because there may be times when I need to solve problems quickly. Finally, good organization skills are essential for this position since I would be responsible for managing many different tasks.”

How would you deal with a resident who is consistently violating the property’s rules?

As a housing manager, you may need to enforce the rules of your community. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills and confidence to do so. In your answer, explain how you would handle this situation in a calm and professional manner. Show that you can be firm but also empathetic.

Example: “I would first meet with the resident privately to discuss their behavior. I would let them know that if they continue to break the rules, we will have no choice but to evict them from the property. If they are willing to change their ways, I would give them one more chance. However, if they violate the rules again, I would begin the eviction process immediately.”

What is your experience with property management software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with property management software. If you have experience using this type of software, share what you like about it and how it helps you in your role as a housing manager. If you don’t have experience with property management software, you can talk about other types of software that you use to manage information or processes within your department.

Example: “I’ve used property management software for several years now, and I find it very helpful when managing my team’s tasks and projects. It allows me to keep track of all of our residents’ needs and concerns while also helping me stay organized. In my last position, we were able to integrate some automation into our property management system, which helped us save time on many of our daily tasks.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a budget for a residential property.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your financial management skills. They want to know how you would handle a budget for their company and whether or not you have experience with managing budgets in the past. In your answer, explain what steps you took to create the budget and highlight any specific skills that helped you complete it successfully.

Example: “In my last position as a property manager, I had to manage a budget for each residential property we managed. To do so, I first met with the owner of the property to discuss their goals for the property and what they wanted to achieve from our services. Then, I created a budget based on those goals and the expenses associated with maintaining the property.”

If you could change one thing about the way residential properties are currently managed, what would it be?

This question is a great way to determine how much experience you have in the housing management industry. It also helps employers understand your thought process and whether or not you would be able to implement changes that benefit their company. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention something specific about residential property management that you don’t like and explain what you would do differently.

Example: “I think one thing I would change about residential properties is the lack of communication between residents and maintenance staff. In my last position, we implemented a system where all maintenance requests were sent through an online portal. Residents could then track the progress of their request and communicate with our team if they had any questions or concerns. This helped us reduce the number of calls we received from residents by 50%.”

What would you do if a maintenance worker came to you with a concern about one of the property’s residents?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your conflict resolution skills. This is because you might have to resolve conflicts between residents and maintenance workers on occasion. In your answer, try to show that you can be empathetic while also maintaining a professional demeanor.

Example: “I would first listen to the maintenance worker’s concerns and then speak with the resident in question. I would do my best to remain calm and respectful when speaking with them. If they were being disrespectful or uncooperative, I would politely ask them to stop their behavior and explain that if they continue, I will need to end our conversation. After talking with both parties, I would make sure everyone feels heard and understood before moving forward.”

How well do you handle stress and pressure?

As a housing manager, you may be responsible for managing many tasks at once. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle stress and pressure well. In your answer, share how you manage stress in your life. Explain that you have strategies to help you stay organized and focused on the task at hand.

Example: “I am someone who thrives under pressure. I find that when there are multiple things I need to do at once, it helps me stay more organized. When I was working as an assistant manager, I would often take over for my manager if they were busy with something else. This helped me learn how to balance multiple tasks at once. Now, I know that I can handle any situation that comes up.”

Do you have any experience conducting resident satisfaction surveys?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with conducting surveys and how you use the information to improve resident satisfaction. Use examples from past experiences where you conducted a survey, analyzed the results and implemented changes or improvements based on the feedback.

Example: “In my last position as a housing manager, I conducted monthly resident satisfaction surveys that asked questions about their overall satisfaction with our community, maintenance services and customer service. The results of these surveys helped me identify areas for improvement in our processes and procedures. For example, one month’s survey showed that residents were unhappy with the quality of our landscaping services. After analyzing the results, I met with the landscaping company to discuss ways we could improve the quality of their work.”

When is the best time to have a conversation with a resident about their behavior?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your conflict resolution skills. They want to know how you would handle a situation where a resident is causing problems for other residents or the property itself. In your answer, explain that it’s important to have these conversations as soon as possible so the resident can change their behavior before they cause too much damage.

Example: “I think it’s best to speak with a resident as soon as I notice any concerning behavior. If I wait too long, it could lead to bigger issues like damaged property or hurt feelings. I also think it’s helpful to meet with them in person rather than over the phone or email because it allows me to read their body language and see if there are any underlying issues.”

We want to encourage community and friendship among our residents. What ideas do you have for promoting a friendly atmosphere?

A community is built on relationships, and a housing manager can help foster those relationships. A hiring manager may ask this question to see if you have any ideas for creating a friendly atmosphere in their community. In your answer, share some of the ways you plan to encourage residents to get to know each other.

Example: “I think it’s important that we create opportunities for our residents to interact with one another. I would love to organize monthly events where everyone can come together and enjoy each other’s company. For example, I could host movie nights or game nights. Another idea I have is to set up a resident council so that residents can take ownership over the community.”

Describe your process for inspecting a new apartment before a new resident moves in.

An interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you use your skills and experience to complete a task. Use examples from previous experiences in which you inspected an apartment before the new resident moved in, ensuring that it was clean and ready for them to move into.

Example: “I always start by inspecting the kitchen and bathroom areas of the apartment. I look for any stains or damage on the counters, floors or walls. Next, I inspect the bedroom and living room areas, looking for similar issues. Finally, I check all of the appliances and fixtures to ensure they are working properly.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention any personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for the position.

Example: “I have five years of experience as a housing manager, which is more than most applicants in this role. I am also certified in property management, so I know all the best practices for managing a community. In my previous role, I was responsible for hiring new employees, so I understand the importance of finding the right fit for each position. Lastly, I am committed to providing excellent customer service to residents.”

Which property management software programs are you familiar with?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine your level of experience with property management software. If you have previous experience using a specific program, share that information and explain how it helped you complete your job duties. If you’re not familiar with any programs, let the interviewer know which ones you’d like to learn about.

Example: “I’ve used several different property management software programs in my past positions as a housing manager. I’m most comfortable working with Property Manager Pro because it’s easy to use and has many helpful features for managing properties. For example, I find its tenant screening feature very useful when choosing tenants for our properties. It helps me quickly identify potential renters who are good candidates for renting from us.”

What do you think is the most important thing that a housing manager can do to maintain a safe and secure environment for their residents?

A housing manager is responsible for ensuring the safety of their residents. This question helps an interviewer determine how you would approach this responsibility and what your priorities are in maintaining a safe environment. In your answer, try to emphasize your commitment to protecting the well-being of others and your ability to make decisions that benefit everyone involved.

Example: “I think it’s important for a housing manager to maintain a strong relationship with both their staff and their residents. By being available to talk to my residents about any concerns they have and by encouraging open communication between my team members, I can ensure that we’re all working toward the same goal of keeping our community safe and secure.”

How often should you perform routine maintenance on common areas like kitchens and laundry rooms?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your knowledge of how often maintenance should be performed on common areas in the housing community. Use examples from your previous experience to explain what factors influence when routine maintenance is necessary and how often it should be done.

Example: “I believe that regular maintenance is important for keeping common areas safe and clean, so I would perform routine maintenance at least once every two weeks. However, if there are any issues with appliances or other facilities, I would address them as soon as possible. For example, if a resident reported a broken appliance in their kitchen, I would immediately send someone out to fix it.”

There is a bug infestation in one of the apartments. What is the first thing you do?

Bugs are a common problem in apartments, and the interviewer wants to know how you would handle this situation. Your answer should show that you have experience with bugs and can solve problems quickly.

Example: “The first thing I do is call an exterminator. If there’s a bug infestation, it’s best to get professionals involved as soon as possible. In my last role, we had a similar issue, so I called our regular pest control company. They came out within 24 hours and took care of the problem. After they left, I inspected all the other units for any signs of bugs.”