At a Glance
- Tasks: Support tenants with rental income management and prevent debt escalation.
- Company: East Lothian Council, dedicated to community support and financial stability.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, competitive pay, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Opportunity for personal growth and impactful community work.
- Why this job: Join a team that helps vulnerable people while developing your skills in a caring environment.
- Qualifications: HNC/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience, driving licence required.
The predicted salary is between 18.34 - 19.86 £ per hour.
Hourly rate of pay: £18.34 - £19.86
Days and Hours of Work: Monday - Friday. Starting and finishing times are flexible, and flexi time is applicable. To start asap.
An opportunity has arisen for a Rent Officer to work within the Council's Revenues Service. This post would normally be based at John Muir House, Haddington. The role of the Rent Officer is to protect Council income streams and maximise collection levels whilst balancing the financial pressures faced by so many households at this time.
The successful candidate will assist with the charging and collection of rental income in line with policy and procedures, ensuring a preventative approach is adopted to stop rent arrears accruing and ensuring early intervention to prevent escalation of the debt recovery process. The successful candidate will work closely with tenants to negotiate repayment of any debt accrued and to identify opportunities to maximise the household income via take-up of welfare benefits and grants available, where eligibility exists.
For serious arrears cases, the successful candidate will prepare cases for court action and if all attempts to engage with a tenant to recover debt owed fail, will assist with evictions. The successful candidate will also have a role to play in the development of the Rent Advice Team, contributing to service improvement work.
The successful candidate must demonstrate experience of working within a customer focused environment and will have the ability to work in a caring and empathetic manner with people who are experiencing financial difficulties. Experience of working with vulnerable people in adverse social circumstances and experience of working in a debt management environment is desirable.
The successful candidate will be highly motivated and will have excellent communication, organisational and negotiation skills and be able to work remotely in an effective way, using Microsoft Office applications and other Council IT systems. There will be a requirement for the successful candidate to use their own vehicle to visit Council tenants in their homes and visit local Council offices to meet with tenants and attend rent surgeries and meetings.
Job Details: Responsible for the delivery of an effective and efficient income management service which ensures that the Council has the finances to deliver a high quality Housing Service to all council tenants in East Lothian and that the customer is fully supported throughout.
Job Requirements:
- Relevant Qualifications: HNC/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of knowledge and/or relevant working experience.
- Driving Licence: As the duties of this role require you to effectively travel to successfully undertake the full remit of the role, you must hold a current driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
- Level 1 Disclosure Clearance: This role requires Level 1 Disclosure Clearance to allow access to the Public Sector Network.
Please note: If you have spent more than 3 months working or living out with the UK in the last 5 years then you will also be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check.
For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo
If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via the provided link.
If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk
Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form.
