Housing Solutions Officer (Hybrid)

Essential Employment; Romford; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Essential Employment currently seeks a Housing Solutions Officer in Romford for a hybrid role. You will handle homelessness assessments, prevent homelessness, and manage cases through statutory decision points, working with landlords and housing partners to secure sustainable private rented solutions.

The post requires thorough evidence gathering, lawful decision-making, and clear communications with residents and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver homelessness assessment, prevention and relief services under Housing Act provisions.
• Provide expert housing advice and statutory homelessness functions per law and guidance.
• Manage caseloads from initial contact to statutory decision ensuring lawful, customer-focused duties.
• Determine cessation or continuation of homelessness duties under relevant acts and guidance.
• Investigate evidence, apply legislation and make legally robust decisions on duties.
• Administer and develop Rent Deposit Scheme and private rented sector access initiatives.
• Collaborate with landlords, letting agents, housing providers and internal services.
• Liaise with Payment Team for audit checks and release of deposit funds.
• Discharge specialist homelessness duties for Part 6 officers and private rented sector offers.
• Manage cases approaching cessation ensuring suitable private rented accommodation.
• Interface with tenants, landlords, and providers to promote tenancy outcomes.
• Prepare statutory notifications and decision letters and ensure appeals can be met.
• Prepare case files and evidence bundles for reviews, complaints and legal proceedings.

Job description

Housing Solutions Officer (Hybrid) needed in Romford £22.41ph

PAYE - Reference: 658

Cessation of Duty
Private rented solutions and rent deposit scheme
Homelessness prevention, relief and main duty assessments and s184 decisions

• To deliver a comprehensive homelessness assessment, prevention and relief service in accordance with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and associated legislation, statutory Codes of Guidance and relevant case laws.
• To provide expert housing advice and statutory homelessness functions in accordance with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and associated legislation, Codes of Guidance and case law.
• To manage a caseload of homelessness applications from initial approach through to statutory decision, ensuring that all duties are discharged lawfully, consistently and in a customer-focused manner.
• To manage complex homelessness cases and determine when the statutory homelessness duties can lawfully be brought to an end in accordance with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Homelessness Code of Guidance and relevant case law.
• To undertake detailed investigations, assess complex evidence, apply relevant legislation and make legally robust decisions regarding the cessation, discharge or continuation of homelessness duties. The role is critical in ensuring lawful decision-making, reducing temporary accommodation pressures and supporting the to deliver an efficient, resident-focused homelessness service.
• To manage homelessness cases through to the lawful cessation of statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. The role is responsible for assessing evidence, making legally compliant decisions, issuing statutory notifications, and ensuring residents understand their housing options, rights, and responsibilities.
• To administer and develop Haverings' Rent Deposit Scheme and associated private rented sector access initiatives, enabling households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness to secure sustainable accommodation in the private rented sector.
• The post holder will work collaboratively with landlords, letting agents, housing providers and internal services to maximise housing opportunities, prevent homelessness, reduce the use of temporary accommodation and support the statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and related legislation.
• To liaise with the Payment Team to ensure correct audit checks and paperwork are submitted for ren deposit funds to be released.
• To provide a specialist homelessness duty discharge for the Part 6 officers and private rented sector offers, private rented sector procurement, tenancy sustainment and landlord liaison service that supports the statutory homelessness responsibilities while maximising access to sustainable housing solutions in the private rented sector.
• To managing cases approaching cessation of homelessness duties, securing suitable private rented accommodation, sustaining existing tenancies and preventing homelessness through effective intervention, negotiation and partnership working.
• To act as a key interface between tenants, landlords, letting agents, housing providers and services, promoting successful tenancy outcomes and preventing homelessness through early intervention, mediation and support.
• Conduct detailed investigations and make findings of fact using evidence gathered from residents, landlords, support agencies, accommodation providers and partner organisations.
• Prepare legally compliant statutory notifications and decision letters.
• Ensure decisions are capable of withstanding Section 202 Reviews, County Court Appeals, Ombudsman investigations and Judicial Review.
• Prepare case files, evidence bundles and reports for reviews, complaints, appeals and legal proceedings.

This is a Full time role on a temporary contract basis.

Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.