Temporary Accommodation Visiting Officer

Fixed term – expiring 10th August 2027

Salary - £37,602 - £44,235 per annum

Full time 36 Hours

Location – 2nd Floor Bridas House, 90 Putney Bridge Road, London, SW18 1HR (secondary location Twickenham Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ)

Are you passionate about making a difference in the community? As a TA Visiting Officer, you will play a crucial role in monitoring the occupancy and safety of temporary accommodation across both boroughs, ensuring a secure environment for our residents.

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth’s Better Service Partnership are seeking to recruit 5 new Temporary Accommodation Visiting Officers to join our diverse, hard-working and friendly team. We are looking for self-motivated, enthusiastic people, with a keen eye for detail and a customer-oriented approach to undertake visits to our temporary accommodation and the homes of those who approach us for housing assistance. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, we would like to invite you to apply.

About The role

The key purpose of this role is to conduct occupancy inspections of temporary accommodations provided by the Councils for homeless households. In addition, you will be performing checks, and this role will manage the innovative inspection TA checker being developed by the Council. Your responsibilities include liaising with landlords to ensure compliance with their obligations, including standards of repairs and maintenance. The position requires an organised individual who can communicate effectively, conduct daily inspections at multiple sites in London and surrounding areas. We want people who thrive on providing excellent services to homeless households and act as a contact point for accommodation providers working with the Councils.

Additional duties include addressing any repair issues, assessing accommodation suitability under the 1996 Housing Act (as amended), responding to safeguarding concerns, overseeing legal matters related to occupancy and handling unauthorised occupants. For this role, you will need to have knowledge of temporary accommodation provision and discharge of the Council’s duty as outlined in the person specification. The position includes frequent travel within London and surrounding areas for inspections with the need for access to a vehicle or willingness to use public transportation. Candidates should be able to use stairs and carry out multiple daily physical inspections.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Strong communication, mediation and interpersonal skills.
• Experience of carrying out property inspections and knowledge of housing standards (HHSRS qualification).
• Track record of dealing with landlords and providers.
• Experience in conducting suitability assessments and providing ongoing housing support to individuals and families.
• Knowledge of relevant Temporary Accommodation regulations and standards.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Sunday 29th March 2026

Shortlisting Date: W/C 30th March 2026

Interview Date: TBC

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Useful Information

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.