Housing Manager

Waverley Borough Council; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policies

Training and development opportunities

Generous annual leave and flexi time

Employee assistance programme

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Waverley Borough Council is seeking an exceptional Housing Manager to lead the Housing Service during a period of significant change as the council transitions into a new West Surrey unitary authority from April 2027. The role focuses on tenancy and neighbourhood management, safeguarding, and continuous service improvement to deliver high-quality outcomes for residents.

Reporting to the Head of Housing, you will lead a team to deliver a comprehensive housing management service, build

Qualifications

• Significant experience in housing management within a local authority or social housing environment.
• Proven leadership ability and track record of delivering service improvements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commitment to delivering outstanding customer service and improving residents’ lives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop high-quality tenancy and neighbourhood management services.
• Tackle anti-social behaviour through early intervention and enforcement where necessary.
• Support tenancy sustainment and promote positive outcomes for residents and communities.
• Safeguard vulnerable residents and ensure appropriate support is provided when needed.
• Ensure strong service performance, regulatory compliance, and effective tenancy management practices.
• Use data, insight and feedback to shape services and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Housing management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Job description

We are looking for an exceptional Housing Manager to lead our Housing Service at an exciting and transformational time.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced housing professional who is passionate about delivering excellent services and shaping the future of housing management during one of the most significant periods of change in local government. As we prepare to transition to a new unitary authority in April 2027, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in influencing service design, driving continuous improvement, and helping to create a modern, high-performing, resident-focused housing service.

Leading a service responsible for approximately 4,700 homes, including around 210 senior living properties, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across tenancy and neighbourhood management, tenancy sustainment, anti-social behaviour, tenancy enforcement, safeguarding, and service improvement.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Housing, you will lead a dedicated team delivering a comprehensive housing management service, including:

• Lead and develop high-quality tenancy and neighbourhood management services.
• Tackle anti-social behaviour through early intervention, partnership working, and robust enforcement where necessary.
• Support tenancy sustainment and promote positive outcomes for residents and communities.
• Safeguard vulnerable residents and ensure appropriate support is provided when needed.
• Ensure strong service performance, regulatory compliance, and effective tenancy management practices.
• Use customer data, insight, and resident feedback to shape services, drive continuous improvement, and deliver better outcomes for residents.
• Build strong partnerships with internal teams and external agencies to create safer, stronger, and more resilient communities.

You will work collaboratively with colleagues across Repairs, Customer Services, Compliance, Housing Needs, Community Services, the Police, and partner agencies to deliver excellent outcomes for residents and build safer, stronger communities.

About You

We are seeking a visible and inspiring leader who can engage, motivate, and develop teams while driving performance and service improvement.

You will have:

• Significant experience in housing management within a local authority or social housing environment
• Strong knowledge of housing law, tenancy management, anti-social behaviour, and safeguarding
• A proven track record of leading teams and delivering service improvements
• Experience of managing performance and driving positive outcomes
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• A commitment to delivering outstanding customer service and improving residents' lives

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to:

• Shape the future of housing services within a new unitary authority
• Lead a committed and experienced team
• Drive meaningful improvements for residents and communities
• Be part of a collaborative and ambitious organisation focused on excellence

If you are an ambitious housing leader with the vision, passion, and determination to make a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.

What We Offer

• Hybrid and agile working policies
• Training and development opportunities including apprenticeships
• Generous annual leave and flexi time
• An employee assistance programme
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

The closing date for application is 9am on the 25th September 2026 and we anticipate interviews being held on the 2nd October 2026.

Equality and Inclusion Statement

The district is home to many different people, and we want our workforce to reflect our diverse local communities. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – we are a Disability Confident employer and appoint on merit. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here -Working at Waverley Borough Council | Waverley Borough Council

We are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving or ex-members of the armed forces and their partners. We offer an interview scheme for serving and ex-military forces members when they meet the essential criteria for the role. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here -Working at Waverley Borough Council | Waverley Borough Council

Right to work in the UK will be checked as part of the interview process.

Information

We understand that some applicants may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with preparing their applications.

All submitted information, whether supported by AI or not, must accurately reflect the applicant’s own skills, experience, and qualifications.

Recruitment decisions will be based on how well applicants demonstrate these attributes during the interview and selection process.

From April 2027, Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council will become part of the new West Surrey unitary council, following the government’s confirmed plans for local government reorganisation across Surrey. This change will see the current twelve councils replaced by two new authorities, East Surrey and West Surrey, with West Surrey taking responsibility for the areas currently served by Guildford, Waverley, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking.

As we move towards this transition, our focus remains firmly on delivering high‑quality, value‑for‑money services and staying true to our shared organisational values of Collaboration, Wellbeing, Trusted, Value for Money and Professionalism.

We recognise that any period of organisational change can bring questions, particularly regarding future structures and working arrangements. Throughout this process, we are committed to supporting our colleagues with transparency and care prioritising wellbeing, maintaining a trusted and open dialogue, and ensuring continued access to learning and professional development opportunities.

While the exact shape of the new West Surrey Council beyond 2027 is still being developed, joining us now means becoming part of an organisation where collaboration thrives and where your contribution will directly influence one of the most significant local government transformations in decades. You’ll gain valuable experience, play an active role in shaping the future of public services across West Surrey, and work within a team committed to professionalism and delivering outstanding outcomes for our communities.

Together, we will ensure a smooth transition and continue to deliver exceptional services for residents both now and into the future.