Housing Officer

The role holder is responsible for providing accessible advice and assistance to tenants on a range of housing issues, such as housing options, estate management, money management and management of anti-social behaviour.

The role-holder undertakes all aspects of tenancy management, including enforcement of tenancy conditions, forced entry for gas servicing and leaks, early counselling visits to new tenants, assisting tenants who wish to move, including ensuring properties are vacated in good condition, and generally helping people sustain their tenancies and comply with their tenancy agreements.

The role holder works closely with customers both to prevent and recover income, including rent, maximising benefit take-up, working with customers already in arrears to reduce their debt and taking enforcement action where necessary. Where the role holder identifies a customer with vulnerabilities, they will liaise with statutory and voluntary bodies including, health, social care, probation and police, in relation to the welfare of the customer.

This may include attendance at case conferences and other multi agency meetings, usually with the client present. The role holder carries out regular estate inspections with residents and other local stakeholders to identify and deal with disrepair, litter and poorly maintained landscaping, graffiti and abandoned vehicles.

The role holder also monitors the work of outsourced providers operating cleaning and general contracts in the area, dealing with poor performance effectively. Responsibility for tenancy enforcement can include dealing with illegal occupation and abandonment, harassment, domestic abuse, nuisance and anti-social behaviour. A key aspect of this role is to deal with victims, perpetrators and witnesses and other agencies in the course of an investigation, taking action as appropriate including attending presenting evidence at Introductory Panel hearings, court and evictions. Knowledge is required of appropriate response and referral routes to assist the local authority Children and Young People's Service to carry out an assessment under section 17 or 47 of the Children Act 1989.

The role holder works closely with customers to promote resident involvement, representing the Council at resident meetings and assisting with any crime reduction and social inclusion initiatives. The role holder will be expected to spend time working in other teams to gain a deeper insight into related areas of work, and bring their learning back into the team and their own work, including presenting findings to others. They will also be involved in mapping, testing and developing new flows of work as required. The role is varied in nature and other non-specified duties relating to housing management will also need to be undertaken from time to time. The role holder will also be regularly involved in a variety of specific projects to support the work of the housing department. Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing to a range of audiences. Able to demonstrate an awareness of working in a systems thinking environment Able to demonstrate people management skills and ability to lead. To demonstrate an awareness of IT systems and be able to use Word and Excel Must be able to drive and have own vehicle, experience of debt collecting, tenancy support and enforcement.