Housing Allocations and Lettings Officer

Positive Employment; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Housing Allocations and Lettings Officer to provide services for housing clients and manage applications. This role involves handling enquiries, assisting vulnerable applicants, and maintaining records. Applicants should have office experience and an understanding of housing services. Offering a hybrid work model, the position is on a contract basis with a pay rate of £17.83 per hour.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year’s office experience is required.
• Ability to assist vulnerable applicants with applications.
• Understanding of housing services and allocations processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide telephone and face-to-face service for housing clients.
• Input housing register applications and update existing changes.
• Handle a range of telephone and general enquiries from clients.

Skills

Office experience

User of software systems

Ability to work with vulnerable people

Understanding of Local Government departments

Knowledge of Allocations and lettings processes

Job description

Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Housing Allocations and Lettings Officer for our client a local government organisation in Berkshire. The successful candidate will provide a telephone and face to face service for housing clients contacting the Council in person, in writing and by telephone about their housing register application and how the Choice Based Lettings system operates.

Assist with the operation of the Common Housing Register by checking and inputting new applications and updating changes to existing applications. This role is a 3 month initial contract with the possibility to extend. Hybrid working 40% in office – however during training it will be required to be in the office daily until fully trained. No site visits required so access to vehicle not necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities (but not limited to)

• Promote equality as an integral part of the role and to treat everyone with fairness and dignity.
• Recognise health and safety is a responsibility of every employee, to take reasonable care of self and others and to comply with the WBC Health and Safety policy and any service-specific procedures / rules that apply to this role.
• Input housing register applications on the housing ICT system and Identify applicants for referral to the Homelessness Prevention & Relief Officers for further assistance.
• Handle a range of telephone and general enquiries from both internal and external customers and contacts, including housing register applicants. To provide a comprehensive response but referring more complex cases to the Housing allocatios Team Leader as appropriate. To assist vulnerable applicants with completing forms and monitoring bidding process.
• Provide advice and respond positively to a wide range of enquiries received via the phone and on the pod reception desk, e.g. Common Housing Register, LHA levels for private rented accommodation, mutual exchange and homelessness.
• Clearly explain relevant legislation to applicants in a way that is understandable, and appreciate the basic legal requirements of valid notice to quit.
• Maintain and update files and records, including information of a high confidential nature such as medical records, using existing systems and processes and ensuring accuracy and security of information.
• Collate, process and monitor medical, social needs and discretionary housing payment processes.
• Maintain stocks of standard forms and information for the public and officer use, raising Agresso orders for stationery and office equipment when required.
• Maintain filing systems, scan and upload post, record annual leave, sickness and team responses.

Personal Requirements

• A minimum of one year’s office experience.
• User of software systems.
• Ability to work with vulnerable people who need assistance with making an application.
• Understanding of Local Government departments or housing services.
• Understanding of Allocations and lettings processes.
• Some experience or understanding of people with mental or physical health problems, and knowledge of medical and social problems (Desirable).

Working Hours: 37hrs / 9:00am - 17:00pm / Monday to Friday

Pay: £17.83 per hr