Housing Officer

My client, a West London Local Authority is seeking a Housing Officer for an ongoing contract.

You must be a car driver for this role

Essential Skills and Experience:

Housing management law and practice desirable
Leaseholder issues or ability to acquire desirable
Commitment to improve customer service and achieve KPI’s
Relevant legislation and remedies to tackle Racial Harassment and Anti Social Behaviour
To investigate and solve problems
Investigation and case building techniques
High level of customer focus

The role involves the following

To provide front-line housing management service for all tenures ensuring compliance with tenancy agreements, leases and licenses.

Advice and assist customers in respect of their contractual arrangement with the client/the Council and on general housing matters

Take action to resolve anti social behaviour, domestic violence and nuisance issues where customers request assistance

Maximise rental collection levels

Facilitate and offer assistance to applicants throughout the viewing, sign up and in due course resettlement process.

Provide preventative guidance and advice to tenants to minimise arrears build up.

To be responsible for investigating and monitoring all cases of Domestic Violence, RH and ASB within the Area in accordance with the Councils policies. To offer a duty system to support residents.

To offer advice within the relevant legislation and policies on all cases of Tenancy Enforcement ensuring that swift legal action is taken where appropriate; ensuring that procedures are followed and targets complied with.

To assess and review complex tenancy management and ASB cases and make recommendations for resolutions in accordance with the system thinking principles which underpin the corporate approach to this activity.

To prepare and identify cases for decision making groups (e.g. Social Welfare Panels, ASBAG. MARAC) and attend case conferences relating to matters of sensitivity e.g. Child Protection and Domestic Violence and Hate Crime Cases.

Presenting cases to panels if required and to and follow through recommendations including with other landlords if required.

To liaise with the Council as regards applicants who are offered viewings, to facilitate the viewing in liaison with Property Services and to expedite any sign up resulting.

To carry out resettlement visits within target. To identify vulnerable and illegal Tenants/Occupants and ensure appropriate warning codes are updated on the OHMS system and appropriate follow up actions are carried out.

To thoroughly investigate suspected tenancy fraud cases.
To assist tenant mobility and administer applications for a transfer including advice on the Locata system.

To investigate, evidence and determine awarding and ending of Tenancies in line with statutory succession policies. This includes processing and updating Change of Tenancy or Occupancy circumstances and implementation of the Council’s tenancy strategy.

To investigate, evidence and determine awarding of assignment via the Mutual Exchange process within the specified timescales.

To provide information on mortgage references/right to buy for tenants.
To deal with breaches of the lease that are not debt related including boundary disputes and unauthorised alterations and extensions.

To deal with squatters and unauthorised occupants in accordance with the clients procedures, and the relevant statutory powers.

To deal with any tenancy matters relating to Sheltered Units and attend meetings at the units when required.

To be responsible for Rent Arrears collection including the recovery of current and former tenant arrears within a given area, identifying arrears cases and appropriately comply with procedures under the Rents Recovery Procedure and ensure targets are met.

To identify special cases where there is a need to assist tenants in sustaining tenancies by referrals made to agencies and offering service providers that can help with financial inclusion, welfare benefits and debt/legal advice.

To prepare, issue and serve Legal notices where appropriate in accordance with the Rent Arrears Recovery Procedure.

To make arrangements on all cases where possible and ensure these are monitored on a regular basis. Identify cases where breaches have occurred and take appropriate action.

To take legal proceedings where appropriate, including submitting DIY-possession claims and presenting cases in court. To liaise with Legal Department on complex cases

To liaise with Housing Benefit and other internal and external agencies. To include attending and offering advice/information at case conferences where there are Rent Arrears.

Support and advise tenants on transfer options and the Locata choice based lettings system.

To arrange decanting in liaison with Property Services.
To publicise alternative housing options (e.g. trading places, homeswop) in accordance with organisational policy.

Maintain appropriate records at all times to enable the provision of performance management data

To assist in emergency situations, to include fires, floods, forced entries and hoarding. To identify suitable temporary accommodation via the client, making necessary arrangements for either bed and breakfast or decants. To contribute to the out of hours service as required.

To assist Tenant Participation to develop and maintain effective links with local groups engaged in activities relevant to the work of the section. This may include preventative work within schools raising awareness of the services within the community and promoting resident empowerment.

To maintain and develop an up to date knowledge of current and proposed legislation, the Council’s Homes policy, and best professional practice within the area of responsibility, undertaking training as required and contributing to training of new staff