Homefinder Officer - Harlow Council

Essex County Council; Essex; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking a Homefinder Officer to manage home seeker applications and allocate temporary accommodation. The successful candidate will liaise with other council departments and external agencies. The role requires experience in local authority housing services, good IT skills, and a driving license. This is a full-time, temporary position based in Harlow, Essex, with a contract duration of 3 months, offering a competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Experience in a front-line local authority housing service.
• Able to carry out home visits outside normal working hours.
• Knowledge of Homelessness Legislation.

Responsibilities

• Manage and process individual home seeker applications.
• Administer the allocation of temporary accommodation.
• Work closely with other Council departments and external agencies.

Skills

Experience in a front-line local authority housing service

Good IT skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office package

Driving licence and access to own vehicle

Job description

Overview

Homefinder Officer - Harlow Council

Location: Harlow

Contract: Full time, Temporary

Duration: 3 Months Contract

Salary: £17.71 PAYE / £22.18 Umbrella

Closing Date: Wednesday 14 January 2026

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Harlow Council to recruit a temporary Homefinder Officer on a full-time, temporary basis.

Please note that this post requires the successful individual to be based on site 2 days per week, increasing to 3.

Harlow is a district of contrasts and an ideal location to both live and work. The town itself is thriving, with excellent shopping and leisure facilities for all ages. We have good road links to the M11 and M25 and excellent rail connections to London and Stansted Airport, just 35 minutes and 20 minutes away from Harlow respectively.

Job Purpose

The Council is committed to providing its customers with the highest level of customer care through the delivery of a customer focused, high quality Housing Service.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day management and processing of individual home seeker applications, internal transfer cases and internal and external mutual exchanges from the date of registration through to the offer of accommodation.

The role will also include the placement of homeless applicants in either Council owned or externally provided temporary accommodation.

The Role

• Be responsible for the assessment, processing and administration of Homeseeker applications within legal requirements and Council Policy.
• Be responsible for the assessment, processing and administration of internal transfer applications.
• Be responsible for the assessment, processing and administration of internal and external mutual exchange applications.
• Administer the allocation of temporary accommodation supplied by both internal and external providers and arrange the use of bed and breakfast where this has been assessed as the only option available
• Work closely in partnership with the wider Housing Service, other Council departments and where relevant external agencies to ensure that appropriate services are delivered.

Duties Include but Not Limited to

• Process Homeseeker applications and enquiries either directly or using the Council's computer systems
• Process and submit medical forms in respect of Homeseeker and Transfer applications in line with legislative requirements and the Council's policy.
• Interview applicants, provide advice and where appropriate help applicants to complete their Housing register application
• Make home visits as required.
• Receive and answer all enquiries directly or using the Council's computer systems and provide advice on housing transfer applications
• Receive all enquiries and provide advice on mutual exchange applications
• Work with other Council departments and external agencies in order to ensure that high standards of service are delivered.

The Experience you will bring

• Experience in a front-line local authority housing service.
• Able to carry out home visits outside normal working hours
• Driving licence and access to own vehicle or other suitable means of transport.
• Knowledge of Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 - Allocations
• Knowledge of Landlord and Tenant law, Immigration and Asylum legislation and Matrimonial law and Children Act.
• Knowledge of Homelessness Legislation.
• Good I.T. skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office package.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website. If you have any queries relating to this post please email [e-mail]