Community Housing Officer

Working on behalf of a local authority, Aatom Recruitment are looking for an experienced Housing Officer.

Responsible for managing the tenancies and leases within a patch of properties, providing advice and support to individual tenants on all tenancy issues, and taking appropriate action including enforcement of tenancy conditions, promoting and supporting effective communities in partnership with other agencies and residents associations in the area. Responsible for identifying and implementing new service initiatives and partnership opportunities in the area.

Responsible for being the key estate representative and ensuring residents receive a seamless service, which will include assessing needs for services, directly providing or making appropriate referrals for service, and identifying any service improvement opportunities.

Whilst carrying out their duties to be aware of all issues relating to equal opportunities and the safety of the community under their management.

Duties will be carried out from a Community Housing Office. A Community Housing Officer may be required to operate from any facility in any location.

9.0
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

9.1 Respond to all initial enquiries from customers be they tenants, lessees or any other member of the public on matters concerning their tenancies or leases or any general estate management issues.

9.2 Carry out all accompanied viewings to void properties within area managed. Give advice and assistance and where appropriate sign up tenancy in liaison with Allocations Office, ensuring that the tenant receives all the relevant information and advice regarding the tenancy.

9.3 Investigate and draft responses to enquiries made by MPs and Councillors. Carry out investigations into complaints through the Hillingdon Homes Complaints Procedure.

9.4 Assist in the development and on going support to community-based groups, Tenants Associations and Residents on general housing issues affecting their homes. Work in close liaison with Tenant Participation Team.

9.5 Represent the Community Housing Team in the delivery of Capital and Revenue programmes and in the delivery of decent homes standards.

Be the focal point between all parts of Hillingdon Homes and residents in achieving scheme delivery.

9.6 Act as lead officer for maintenance and monitoring of Residents Quality Promises for the area managed.

– Be fully aware of service areas and standards, contained in RQP.

– Work with all service providers to ensure delivery. Resolve locally any non-compliance of service standard by taking remedial action where appropriate.

– Make recommendations for resolution of service failures, escalate to Team Leader e.g. Environment Services.

– Collate and provide all performance information for Team Leader in advance of quarterly monitoring meetings and ensure Team Leader is aware of any non-compliance of RQP.

9.7 Co-ordinate scheduling to ensure delivery of RQP service standard by quarterly monitor meetings. To carryout Estate Inspections in accordance with practices and procedures.

9.8 i) Maintain regular contact with residents and mobile Caretakers during and between quarterly inspections.

ii) Maintain regular inspections to ensure external and internal communal areas are maintained to a high quality e.g. abandoned vehicles, graffiti and fly tipping.

9.9
Manage the tenancies in a specific area having regard to legislative requirements, Conditions of Tenancy, Hillingdon Homes policy and procedures. Assess issues and cases, using knowledge, tact and sensitivity when dealing with all cases, particularly vulnerable tenants or difficult cases, whilst enforcing the procedures to ensure effective tenancy management. The management of the tenancies specifically including:

a) Give advice and ensure that tenants give four weeks notice on ending tenancy in accordance with Tenancy Conditions.

b) Ensure tenancies are legally terminated, where necessary take legal action and arrange storage of furniture.

c) Manage the garage compounds and undertake regular inspections and recommend any future usage, void turnaround/demolish.

d) Advise tenants of the Approved Allocations Policy and operation of choice based lettings. Maximise occupation of the Council’s stock and encourage mutual exchanges as appropriate. Visit to approve transfer applicants in connection with their transfer application and determine whether the application may be forwarded to the Housing Assessment Team.

e) Respond to tenants advice concerning lodger or sub-tenant in Council properties. Ensure compliance with legislative and tenancy condition requirements. Liaise with other section of the Department as necessary regarding such occupation changes.

f) Respond to all requests for tenancy changes. Carry out appropriate investigations and make recommendations to Team Leader in accordance with procedure.

g) In connection with statutory and non-statutory tenancy changes.

h) To visit all new tenants within four weeks to ensure there is no breach of tenancy and to give advice and assistance.

i) Offer assistance to tenants following emergencies and completion of insurance claim forms where negligence is alleged.

j) Inspect properties relating to two-room decoration programme for elderly and disabled tenants and tenants with severe mental health or similar problems. Ensure programme is maintained and tenants informed.

k) Take appropriate action in relation to squatters and unauthorised occupiers of property managed by Hillingdon Homes.