Housing Assistant (IR&FI)

plymouthcommunityhomes; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension scheme

Hybrid working

Volunteer days

Annual leave 25–30 days

Employee support services

Job summary

Plymouth Community Homes is recruiting an organised Housing Assistant on a 6-month fixed-term/secondment basis to join the Income Recovery & Financial Inclusion team. The role focuses on administrative tasks, tenancy information processing, and supporting residents with financial services.

You will handle records, assist with Universal Credit, and connect tenants with appropriate internal and external support, contributing to tenancy sustainment and improved resident outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience handling administrative tasks and managing competing priorities.
• Knowledge of social housing context and working with diverse residents.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work accurately in a fast-paced environment and follow procedures.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain the Universal Credit portal to assist tenants with claims.
• Administer the Financial Support Fund to help customers access assistance.
• Raise purchase orders and verify supplier invoices for accuracy.
• Process rent payments and set up Direct Debits in line with financial regulations.
• Serve as a point of contact via phone, email, online platforms and face-to-face.

Skills

Administrative experience

Prioritisation

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Digital literacy

Tools

Universal Credit portal

Job description

Fixed Term / Secondment (Up to 6 Months)

Make a Real Difference in Your Community

We’re seeking a highly organised and proactive Housing Assistantto join our Income Recovery & Financial Inclusion team. This is a predominantly administrative role, where you’ll play a vital part in keeping our services running efficiently while supporting positive outcomes for our residents.

This is a 6-month fixed-term/secondment roleand an excellent opportunity for someone looking to start or transition into a career in housing. Whether you already have administrative experience or are keen to apply your transferable skills in a new sector, you’ll gain valuable insight into income recovery, financial inclusion, and tenancy support within a supportive team environment.

Working largely behind the scenes, you’ll be responsible for maintaining accurate records, processing financial and tenancy information, and ensuring queries are handled effectively. Alongside this, you’ll also have opportunities to engage with customers and colleagues, helping to deliver a responsive and supportive service.

Your work will directly contribute to helping people sustain their tenancies and access the support they need—ensuring that our team can deliver services that genuinely improve the lives of our residents

About the role

• Manage and maintain our Universal Credit portal, supporting tenants with their claims
• Play a key role in administering our Financial Support Fund, helping customers access vital assistance
• Work closely with suppliers—raising purchase orders and checking invoices for accuracy
• Process rent payments and set up Direct Debits, ensuring everything is handled accurately and in line with financial regulations
• Be a point of contact for our customers - supporting queries via phone, email, online platforms and face-to-face
• Connect tenants with the right internal and external support services to sustain their tenancies
• Manage and maintain our Universal Credit portal, supporting tenants with their claims

Our ideal candidate for this role is someone who:

• Has administrative experience that includes organising competing priorities
• Has knowledge of the function of social housing and an appreciation of working with a diverse range of people, some of whom are socially or financially excluded
• Has excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Can work accurately in a fast-paced environment whilst adhering to procedures and regulations
• Is proficient in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook applications
• Is adaptable to changes in working practices
• persistence is key, especially when workloads fluctuate. Staying focused and consistent

About Plymouth Community Homes

We are the city’s largest social housing association, with over 16,000 properties providing homes for more than 35,000 people, and we’re aiming to grow, to provide more people with high-quality, affordable homes to rent and buy.

With a great workforce and a focus on people, we deliver good quality, well-managed and well-maintained homes.

What we can offer you:

• Excellent pension scheme with a high level of employer contributions
• Flexible working opportunities including Flexi-time and hybrid working
• The opportunity to carry out volunteer work for 3 days a year through our Make a Difference scheme
• Annual leave of 25 days (rising to 30 days) plus Bank Holidays and holiday trading option
• Free Employee Assistance programme, including free counselling
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Access to our extensive employee reward portal which includes discounts for multiple retailers
• We support digital working with modern devices/smart phones
• It's fun to work here! with regular Company & team events
• Our modern and spacious offices are right on a bus route, and just three miles from the city centre
• We get a daily visit from a local food van, and within walking distance to local Crownhill shops, Warrens, M& S Foodhall, Co-op, Starbucks and Tim Hortons

We are a committed Equal Opportunities employer. We welcome applications from suitably talented people from any community and background.

Living and Working in Plymouth