Housing Officer S02

Description

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To provide a tailored, resident-focused housing management service within a designated neighbourhood. This will include:

• providing effective tenancy management and enforcing tenancy conditions;
• ensuring that tenants and leaseholders are involved in the design and implementation of estate management services to meet individual and neighbourhood requirements;
• pro-actively liaising with other housing divisions,  as well as undertaking joint working across the housing service,  and engaging  with external partners to deliver effective services.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Tenancy management

• To ensure that tenants understand their rights and responsibilities under the tenancy agreement and that all tenancy conditions are adhered to. 
• To take action concerning breach of tenancy, removal of squatters, unauthorised occupants, authorising successions, assignments and referring complex cases to the Area Housing Manager.
• To attend Court to give evidence in cases relating to breaches of tenancy and of lease agreements and to execute evictions in conjunction with appointed bailiffs. 
• To investigate and manage all reported and recorded incidents of low level antisocial behaviour in a timely manner and in accordance with service standards, legislation and the Antisocial Behaviour Policy and Procedure.
• Ensure that early intervention and enforcement measures are implemented to minimise the risk to the victim or perpetrator.
• To advise tenants on, and process applications under, the Council’s policies on transfers and mutual exchanges. 
• To be responsible for carrying out initial tenancy visits to new tenants’ homes to ensure that they are satisfied with the service and understand the terms of their tenancy. To arrange a follow up meeting to ensure that any issues that arose  are dealt with including rent and housing benefit repairs and any other tenancy issues or problems within the home. 
• To carry out regular tenancy audits, use business intelligence to detect unlawful subletting, and work with internal departments where information sharing protocols are in place to protect public asserts. 
• To effectively manage the termination of tenancies and to work with the Lettings  and Voids Team so that the void turnover period is minimised. 
• To work with colleagues within Housing Services and ICT to assist in the improvement of digital services for residents and mobile working solutions for staff, including providing feedback on experience with mobile working solutions, passing on feedback from residents and promoting a move towards self-service for residents and flexible working with colleagues.