Accommodation Officer

Carrington West; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Accommodation Officer to manage a portfolio of temporary accommodation properties in Greater London. This role requires strong property management skills and an understanding of homelessness legislation. You will engage with residents and collaborate with partner agencies to ensure safe and compliant housing solutions. A full UK driving license and degree-level qualification or equivalent experience is essential. The position is hybrid, allowing for flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a frontline housing or temporary accommodation role.
• Proven experience managing properties and tenancies.
• Strong understanding of homelessness legislation.
• Ability to carry out property inspections.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of temporary accommodation and PSL properties.
• Contract manage temporary accommodation providers.
• Carry out regular inspections of properties.
• Provide advice on safeguarding and health.
• Liaise and negotiate with landlords.

Skills

Frontline housing experience

Property management

Communication skills

Numeracy skills

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

We're recruiting an experienced and proactive Accommodation Officer to join a Housing Needs service within a local authority. This is an excellent opportunity for a housing professional with strong temporary accommodation and property management experience to play a key role in ensuring homeless households are placed in safe, suitable and well‑managed accommodation.

You'll be responsible for managing a portfolio of temporary accommodation and PSL properties, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, effective tenancy management, and strong engagement with residents, landlords and partner agencies. The role is central to sustaining tenancies and reducing repeat homelessness. This role will be delivered on a hybrid basis, with a mix of home working, office attendance and on‑site visits to client premises. The successful candidate must have use of a car for business purposes and valid business insurance.

The Role

• Manage a portfolio of temporary accommodation and PSL properties, covering voids, lettings, tenancy management, repairs and landlord liaison.
• Contract manage temporary accommodation providers, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.
• Carry out regular inspections to ensure properties meet health and safety standards, fitness requirements and local standards.
• Monitor and visit residents in temporary accommodation to ensure authorised occupation, vacation and repossession in line with homelessness legislation. Ensure households owed a housing duty are actively seeking alternative housing options.
• Provide advice and support on safeguarding, health and wellbeing, welfare rights, budgeting, tenancy management and independent living skills.
• Work closely with Housing Needs, Homelessness and other internal teams to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Investigate complaints relating to temporary accommodation, service delivery and inter‑household disputes, implementing appropriate remedial action.
• Serve Notices to Quit, support legal proceedings, prepare witness statements and attend court where required.
• Manage the discharge of households, including arrangements for storage or disposal of belongings following vacation.
• Complete accommodation sign‑ups promptly to minimise void loss and rental income loss.
• Liaise and negotiate with landlords, agents and accommodation providers to secure suitable placements.
• Support residents with applications for Discretionary Housing Payments where appropriate.
• Identify and address tenancy breaches, fraud or misuse of accommodation proportionately and effectively.
• Lead on complex cases, developing support plans for households at risk of tenancy failure.
• Convene and participate in multi‑agency meetings and case conferences.
• Deal with safeguarding concerns in line with council procedures.
• Maintain accurate case records and respond to complaints, Member enquiries and correspondence professionally.
• Support innovation, service improvement and change initiatives within the team.

Key Requirements

• Experience working in a frontline housing or temporary accommodation role.
• Proven experience managing properties, tenancies or licences, including dealing with ASB and tenancy breaches.
• Experience handling complex casework face‑to‑face and in writing.
• Strong understanding of homelessness legislation, temporary accommodation and housing management processes.
• Ability to carry out property inspections and identify health and safety or compliance issues.
• Experience working with vulnerable households and managing challenging situations sensitively. Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex housing issues clearly.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload and work independently while contributing to a team environment.
• Strong record‑keeping and administrative skills with attention to detail.
• Effective numeracy skills, including assessing affordability where required.
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
• Full UK driving licence, use of a car for business purposes, and valid business insurance.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional out‑of‑hours work.

What You Need to Do Now

If you are interested in this role and meet the criteria above, please click APPLY NOW and send us your application today.

If you do not hear from us within 48 hours of applying, your application has been unsuccessful.