Rent Officer

Service Care; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Service Care is seeking an Experienced/Senior Rent Officer to join our Housing Team in East London on a 12-week, office-based contract. You will manage complex, high-value rent arrears cases and work directly with tenants to secure sustainable payment solutions.

The role focuses on high-level arrears work, including court applications and possession hearings, payment plans, and close collaboration with Housing Benefit and Universal Credit teams. Start ASAP.

Qualifications

• Experience managing rent arrears from early intervention through to legal action.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation and policies.
• Ability to prepare cases for court and attend possession hearings.
• Proven ability to manage caseloads independently and communicate professionally.

Responsibilities

• Effectively manage and take action on persistent and high-value rent arrears.
• Prepare rent arrears cases for court, including applications and particulars of claim.
• Attend court where required to obtain possession orders.
• Set up, monitor and take appropriate action in relation to payment plans.
• Manage a defined caseload of complex rent arrears cases, ensuring timely progression.
• Work proactively with Housing Benefit and Universal Credit teams to secure payments.
• Communicate directly with tenants regarding arrears and repayment arrangements.
• Conduct home visits where required to engage with tenants and progress cases.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records and documentation.

Skills

Rent arrears management

Housing management

Court proceedings

Tenant liaison

Payment plans

Case management

Housing Benefit

Universal Credit

Home visits

Communication skills

Job description

Experienced / Senior Rent Officer Location: East London Working Arrangement: Full-time, office-based Contract: 12 weeks Department: Housing Start: Immediate / ASAP We are currently looking for an Experienced/Senior Rent Officer to join our Housing Team on a 12-week contract. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced rent arrears professional who is confident managing complex, high-value cases and working directly with tenants to achieve sustainable payment solutions. Although we manage approximately 500 properties , this role will focus primarily on high-level and complex rent arrears cases , rather than the full property portfolio. As a result, the successful candidate will be responsible for a smaller, targeted caseload.

Key Responsibilities

• Effectively manage and take action on persistent and high-value rent arrears .
• Prepare rent arrears cases for court, including applications and particulars of claim.
• Attend court where required to obtain possession orders .
• Set up, monitor and take appropriate action in relation to payment plans .
• Manage a defined caseload of complex rent arrears cases, ensuring timely progression and resolution.
• Work proactively with Housing Benefit and Universal Credit teams to secure outstanding payments and resolve issues.
• Communicate directly with tenants regarding rent arrears and repayment arrangements.
• Conduct home visits where required to engage with tenants and progress cases.
• Contact hard-to-reach tenants outside normal office hours by telephone where necessary.
• Work independently, prioritising workload effectively and meeting deadlines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records and documentation.
• Provide management reports on case progress, actions taken and key milestones.
• Build effective working relationships with tenants, internal teams and external agencies.
• Ensure all activity is carried out professionally and in line with relevant housing legislation, policies and procedures.

About You

We are looking for someone with strong practical experience in rent arrears and housing management , ideally with experience managing complex or high-value cases.

You will need to be:

• Experienced in managing rent arrears cases from early intervention through to legal action.
• Confident preparing cases for court and attending possession hearings.
• Knowledgeable about Housing Benefit and Universal Credit processes.
• Comfortable dealing with challenging and hard-to-reach tenants.
• Confident carrying out home visits and communicating with tenants in a professional and respectful manner.
• Highly organised, able to manage your own caseload and work independently.
• A strong communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confident producing accurate management information and case progress reports.
• Resilient, proactive and able to deal effectively with complex situations.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to join a busy Housing Team and make a direct impact on the management and recovery of complex rent arrears.

The role is particularly suited to an experienced Rent Officer or Housing professional who enjoys working on challenging cases and has the confidence to progress cases through to legal action where necessary.

• Location: East London
• Hours: Full-time, office-based
• Contract Length: 12 weeks