Housing Options Officer

Vivid Resourcing Ltd; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A local authority in Kent is seeking a Housing Options Officer to provide specialist housing advice and assistance. The role involves preventing homelessness, assessing applications, and creating Personalised Housing Plans. Ideal candidates will have experience in housing or related fields, strong communication skills, and a commitment to assisting vulnerable individuals. The position offers flexible working options and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Excellent training and professional development

Local Government pension scheme

Generous annual leave entitlement

Flexible and hybrid working options

Supportive and collaborative workplace

Qualifications

• Experience in housing, homelessness, tenancy management, or a related role.
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation and housing law (or the ability to learn quickly).
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to handle sensitive situations.
• Organizational skills to manage a busy caseload within statutory deadlines.
• A commitment to delivering excellent customer service and supporting vulnerable people.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical housing advice to households facing homelessness.
• Prevent homelessness through early intervention, negotiation, and tenancy sustainment.
• Take homelessness applications, carry out detailed assessments, and issue statutory decisions.
• Develop and monitor Personalised Housing Plans in line with HRA 2017 duties.
• Work with private landlords, housing associations, and support services to identify accommodation solutions.
• Ensure all casework complies with housing legislation and council policies.

Skills

Experience in housing

Knowledge of homelessness legislation

Strong communication skills

Organizational skills

Commitment to customer service

Job description

Overview

Housing Options Officer

Location: Kent (office based). Contract: agency. Salary: 25ph/26ph

Help us prevent homelessness in Kent

About the Role

Working within a busy local authority housing service, you'll provide specialist housing advice and assistance under the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017).

Your work will be varied and rewarding - one day you might be preventing an eviction by negotiating with a landlord, the next you could be helping a vulnerable household access emergency accommodation. You\'ll assess homelessness applications, create Personalised Housing Plans, and work closely with colleagues and partners across Kent to deliver the best outcomes for residents.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical housing advice to households facing homelessness.
• Prevent homelessness through early intervention, negotiation, and tenancy sustainment.
• Take homelessness applications, carry out detailed assessments, and issue statutory decisions.
• Develop and monitor Personalised Housing Plans in line with HRA 2017 duties.
• Work with private landlords, housing associations, and support services to identify accommodation solutions.
• Ensure all casework complies with housing legislation and council policies.

About You

We\'re looking for someone with:

• Experience in housing, homelessness, tenancy management, or a related role.
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation and housing law (or the ability to learn quickly).
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to handle sensitive situations.
• Organisational skills to manage a busy caseload within statutory deadlines.
• A commitment to delivering excellent customer service and supporting vulnerable people.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a dedicated local authority team making a real impact in Kent.
• Access to excellent training and professional development opportunities.
• Local Government pension scheme and generous annual leave entitlement.
• Flexible and hybrid working options to support work-life balance.
• A supportive, collaborative workplace that values equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Vivid Resourcing are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships or any other characteristic protected by law