Housing Adviser

Pertemps Bond; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Flexible working options

Professional development

Job summary

Pertemps Bond is seeking a Housing Adviser for homelessness and housing options in London. The role is hybrid, with 3 days on site and a 4‑month temporary contract, potentially extendable based on service need and performance.

You will assess and determine statutory homelessness applications, manage complex caseloads, and provide person‑centred housing options to prevent homelessness across the borough. Thorough knowledge of housing law and strong communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Ability to apply housing law and guidance to casework.
• Experience handling high‑volume homelessness assessments.
• Clear written communication for decision letters and notes.
• Capability to work in a hybrid, multi‑agency setting.

Responsibilities

• Conduct housing options interviews and enquiries with accuracy.
• Create and update Personal Housing Plans to aid prevention.
• Assess homelessness applications and issue decisions on time.
• Carry out affordability assessments and advise on options.
• Recommend temporary accommodation in line with duties and constraints.
• Assess housing register applications and determine priority.
• Collaborate with social care, health, police, and partners.
• Perform safeguarding risk assessments for vulnerable individuals.
• Support statutory reviews, legal challenges, and court attendance.

Skills

Complex problem-solving

Critical thinking

Judgement

Emotional intelligence

Digital literacy

Equality, diversity & inclusion

Job description

Housing Adviser (Homelessness & Housing Options)

London | Hybrid – 3 days on site | 4 months (potential extension)

Make an immediate impact on residents facing homelessness. A leading local authority is seeking an experienced Housing Adviser on a 4‑month temporary basis to assess and determine statutory homelessness applications, deliver person‑centred housing options work, and help prevent and relieve homelessness across the borough.

The role

You will act as a first point of contact for residents seeking housing assistance (in person, by phone, email, and post) and manage a caseload of complex cases from initial enquiry through to decision, referral, and placement. Working with minimal supervision, you will apply the Housing Act 1996 (Part 7), Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Homelessness Code of Guidance, and relevant case law to make lawful, timely, and well‑reasoned decisions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting full housing options interviews and detailed enquiries; verifying documents and carrying out visits as needed.
• Creating and updating Personal Housing Plans and maximising prevention opportunities to help people remain in or source suitable accommodation.
• Assessing and determining homelessness applications, including issuing statutory notifications and decisions correctly and on time.
• Carrying out affordability assessments and advising on suitable, affordable accommodation options.
• Recommending temporary accommodation placements where prevention is exhausted, in line with statutory duties and council constraints.
• Assessing applications to join the housing register, verifying evidence, and determining priority under the council’s allocation scheme.
• Working with internal teams and external partners (social care, health, police, voluntary sector) via referrals, meetings, and case conferences.
• Undertaking risk and safeguarding assessments for children and vulnerable adults; escalating concerns appropriately.
• Supporting statutory reviews, legal challenges, and court attendance where required; instructing Legal Services and consulting Counsel.
• Maintaining accurate case records, file notes, and database entries; responding to complaints and Members’ Enquiries.
• Contributing to service performance targets and continuous improvement; deputising for the Team Leader when needed.

About you

We recruit for attitude as much as experience. You will bring strong complex problem‑solving, critical thinking, and judgement, with the ability to work independently through ambiguity and make evidence‑based decisions. You are calm under pressure, highly organised, and committed to outstanding customer service.

Essential skills and attributes:

• Sound knowledge of Part 7 homelessness law, the Homelessness Code, and associated case law (or the ability to quickly get up to speed).
• Experience conducting housing options interviews, assessments, and decision‑making in a high‑volume environment.
• Excellent written communication for clear, reasoned decision letters and case recording.
• Strong emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to build rapport with people in crisis.
• Confidence liaising with multi‑agency partners and managing sensitive safeguarding issues.
• High digital literacy; comfortable using council IT systems, databases, and case management tools.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and to working in an agile, hybrid team.

Working pattern and location

• Hybrid working: 3 days per week on site at offices in London, with flexible working considered.
• Contract: 4 months temporary, with the possibility of extension based on service need and performance.
• Full induction, supervision, and access to ongoing training and development.

Benefits

• Competitive local government salary (pro rata) and pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave and flexible working options.
• Professional development and career progression opportunities within a busy, supportive Housing Solutions team.