Job Description:
Housing Needs delivers a variety of services to our residents to help relief and prevent homelessness.
This role focuses on procuring private accommodations to support other departments and residents. The role reports to the Private Sector Lettings Senior Officer.
Job Purpose: To lead on securing through individual negotiations a supply of private rented accommodation at affordable renting levels to use to meet housing needs.
The post holder will authorise payments and ensure supply by negotiating rents and offering payments from the homelessness prevention fund to secure properties for a range of customer groups, including homelessness prevention and relief cases, move on from supported housing and move on from temporary accommodation. To provide the necessary support for prospective tenants to enable them to start their tenancy.
Responsibilities: To operate a property finding service by generating leads from a variety of sources including known landlords, web sites, publications and cold calling.
To provide information to landlords on services available, assist landlords in completing any property related administration and keep accurate records of all landlord contact details.
To provide information to landlords on their responsibilities, and advise them on how to meet them.
To carry out inspections of properties and write property inspection reports in order to assess their suitability for households in housing need, investigate any disrepair issues, identify potential health and safety hazards and make recommendations.
To liaise with Housing Advisors and other Housing Needs colleagues in order to assess prospective tenants' suitability for private renting by reviewing their housing history and housing needs assessment, confirming their financial circumstances and ability to maintain a PRS tenancy.
To provide prospective tenants with comprehensive details of suitable and available private rented properties for letting and conducting an innovative matching service between prospective tenant and available properties, depending on tenant needs.
To ensure all available and suitable private rented properties are inspected, advertised and let as quickly as possible, in line with agreed procedures.
To undertake accompanied viewings with prospective tenants and provide tenants and landlords with expert advice and guidance on all aspects of letting.
To ensure prospective tenants are fully assisted with applying for Universal Credit or Housing Benefits and fully advised regarding setting up direct rent payments.
To liaise with the council's Empty Property Officer, Home Improvement Agency and private sector enforcement service to maximise the take up of grants and opportunities for landlords.
To attend and actively participate in advertising the Council's Private Renting Scheme at various landlords and tenants forums, trade events and one-to-one liaison meetings with lettings professionals and landlords and contribute to the design and content of promotional materials.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lettings Officer in London
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like Delstad Recruitment.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like Delstad Recruitment? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit Delstad Recruitment's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Lettings Officer role at Delstad Recruitment, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Delstad Recruitment
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where Delstad Recruitment operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to Delstad Recruitment. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at Delstad Recruitment.
