Accommodation Officer

Colchester City Council; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Training & progression

Annual leave 23 days

Extra 5 days after 5 years

Employee assistance programme

Smartphone & laptop

Gym discount

Volunteering day

Free flu jab

Job summary

Colchester Borough Homes is seeking an Accommodation Officer in Colchester. This hybrid, 1-day remote role is a 12-month fixed-term contract, 37 hours per week, with scope to advance based on experience.

You will lead on private sector housing projects, conduct safety inspections, and negotiate with landlords to source homes for clients. The role emphasizes excellent communication, proactive support, and collaboration with partner agencies to deliver positive outcomes for residents in temporary

Qualifications

• Experience in customer engagement and support delivery is desirable.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills are essential.
• Ability to assess needs and sign-post appropriate support.

Responsibilities

• You will monitor rent accounts, maintain licences/tenancies, and provide tenancy advice.
• You will liaise with private sector landlords and letting agents to source housing and build partner relationships.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation

Liaison with landlords

Job description

1 x 12 months Fixed Term - 37 hours, Monday to Friday

This is a career grade role with appointments relevant to experience and qualifications.

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic, confident, self-motivated individual with excellent communication skills.

Your main roles will include:

• To take the lead in procuring private sector accommodation for both the Private Sector Leasing and HomeSteps Schemes
• Carrying out HHSRS inspections when required to ensure properties are safe to let and there are no significant Hazards
• If hazards are discovered liaise with the landlords and the Councils Private Sector Housing team , if appropriate to that defects can be addressed
• Arranging, tenancies and or licences by way of negotiation with private sector l andlords and agents.
• Negotiating with private sector landlords with a view to sourcing private rented accommodation for our Home Step scheme.
• Assessment and allocation of customers to suitable properties.
• Arranging timely move on from Bed & Breakfast and temporary accommodation.
• Delivering and arranging support for those living in temporary accommodation provided by Colchester Borough Homes and partner organisations.
• Managing a reactive and changing workload.
• Assessing and identifying individual's needs, to recommend and sign-post appropriate support for customers.
• Working with partner agencies and colleagues in a holistic way to ensure positive outcomes.

Your innovative approach will be matched by a combination of previous customer engagement and support experience and delivery of housing related support, good negotiation skills. You will help to monitor rent accounts, maintain licences /tenancies and provide general advice tenants/licensees in accommodation. To offer a flexible and responsive service that is sensitive to our customer's needs. Liaising with Private Sector Landlords and letting agents with a view to sourcing private rented accommodation for our Private Sector scheme and building relationships with landlords and agents and other partner agencies.

Please note it is Colchester Borough Homes policy to appoint at the bottom of the scale.

Benefits of working for CBH

• Local Government Pension Scheme with a 19.5% employer contribution
• Excellent training, development, and progression opportunities
• Annual leave entitlement of 23 days annual leave (increasing to 26 days after 5 years' service), plus bank and public holidays and two extra company holidays during the Christmas period.
• The opportunity to buy up to another 5 days holiday, subject to conditions
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme
• Provision of a smartphone and laptop
• Discounted gym member - corporate membership rate at Leisure World and the Northern Gateway.
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
• Free Flu Jab

Agile Working at Colchester Borough Homes means having some flexibility about when, where, and how we work to best meet the needs of our role and service area.

Other employee benefits include payment of a professional subscription, Free yearly eye tests plus a contribution towards glasses for VDU use.

You can find out more about Colchester Borough Homes by visiting: www.cbhomes.org.uk .

If you would like to discuss this post further, please contact Mark Jameson on 01206 506493.

Interview date to be confirmed. Interviews will be held remotely.

Equality & Diversity Commitment

Colchester Borough Homes are an equal opportunities employer. As part of our continued commitment to Equality and Diversity, and our workforce accurately reflecting the community we represent, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and applicants who have status as an individual with a physical or mental disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer and a Mindful Employer. We also hold accreditations for Working Well, Investors in People Gold status and the Armed Forces Covenant.

Accommodation Officer

Company: Colchester City Council Salary: £30,345 to £38,024 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Colchester, CO4 3GW Working pattern: Hybrid - 1 day remote Job type: Contract Posting date: 12 Nov 2026 Closing date: 25 Nov 2026 Apply for this job

Summary

1 x 12 months Fixed Term - 37 hours, Monday to Friday

This is a career grade role with appointments relevant to experience and qualifications.

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic, confident, self-motivated individual with excellent communication skills.

Your main roles will include:

• To take the lead in procuring private sector accommodation for both the Private Sector Leasing and HomeSteps Schemes
• Carrying out HHSRS inspections when required to ensure properties are safe to let and there are no significant Hazards
• If hazards are discovered liaise with the landlords and the Councils Private Sector Housing team , if appropriate to that defects can be addressed
• Arranging, tenancies and or licences by way of negotiation with private sector l andlords and agents.
• Negotiating with private sector landlords with a view to sourcing private rented accommodation for our Home Step scheme.
• Assessment and allocation of customers to suitable properties.
• Arranging timely move on from Bed & Breakfast and temporary accommodation.
• Delivering and arranging support for those living in temporary accommodation provided by Colchester Borough Homes and partner organisations.
• Managing a reactive and changing workload.
• Assessing and identifying individual's needs, to recommend and sign-post appropriate support for customers.
• Working with partner agencies and colleagues in a holistic way to ensure positive outcomes.

Your innovative approach will be matched by a combination of previous customer engagement and support experience and delivery of housing related support, good negotiation skills. You will help to monitor rent accounts, maintain licences /tenancies and provide general advice tenants/licensees in accommodation. To offer a flexible and responsive service that is sensitive to our customer's needs. Liaising with Private Sector Landlords and letting agents with a view to sourcing private rented accommodation for our Private Sector scheme and building relationships with landlords and agents and other partner agencies.

Please note it is Colchester Borough Homes policy to appoint at the bottom of the scale.

Benefits of working for CBH

• Local Government Pension Scheme with a 19.5% employer contribution
• Excellent training, development, and progression opportunities
• Annual leave entitlement of 23 days annual leave (increasing to 26 days after 5 years' service), plus bank and public holidays and two extra company holidays during the Christmas period.
• The opportunity to buy up to another 5 days holiday, subject to conditions
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme
• Provision of a smartphone and laptop
• Discounted gym member - corporate membership rate at Leisure World and the Northern Gateway.
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
• Free Flu Jab

Agile Working at Colchester Borough Homes means having some flexibility about when, where, and how we work to best meet the needs of our role and service area.

Other employee benefits include payment of a professional subscription, Free yearly eye tests plus a contribution towards glasses for VDU use.

You can find out more about Colchester Borough Homes by visiting: www.cbhomes.org.uk .

If you would like to discuss this post further, please contact Mark Jameson on 01206 506493.

Interview date to be confirmed. Interviews will be held remotely.

Equality & Diversity Commitment

Colchester Borough Homes are an equal opportunities employer. As part of our continued commitment to Equality and Diversity, and our workforce accurately reflecting the community we represent, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and applicants who have status as an individual with a physical or mental disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer and a Mindful Employer. We also hold accreditations for Working Well, Investors in People Gold status and the Armed Forces Covenant.

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