At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage tenancies and support customers in finding their ideal homes.
- Company: Join a not-for-profit housing association dedicated to community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days of annual leave, a contributory pension, and free parking.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a friendly team environment await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing management and strong relationship-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Full-time Temporary Associate Description Housing Officer – Fixed Term Contract
Contract: Fixed Term – 6 months / Full Time Hours: 37 hours per week – (Mon-Fri) agile working. We work hard to provide flexibility of hours to benefit both our teams and customers.
We have a great new opportunity for an experienced Housing Officer to join our team on a temporary basis for 6 months. At Squared we pride ourselves on being a great place to work, where everyone feels fairly treated and enjoys their work in a welcoming and friendly environment. We’re a not-for-profit housing association that has been providing affordable housing in Luton and South Bedfordshire since 1962.
Our Homes department is a vital division of Squared providing more than just housing to our customers who are most in need. We work closely with a range of partners including the Department for Work and Pensions, Luton Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council. We have around 370 homes for independent living for people in need in our local community, spread across Luton, Dunstable, Caddington and Barton-le-Clay which range from bedsits and one-bedroom flats to houses with four or more bedrooms. We offer so much more than just a roof over your head.
Our Homes team support our customers to manage and sustain their tenancy whilst offering guidance and encouragement to inspire them to fulfil their personal aspirations with the long-term aim of moving into a privately rented or owned home.
The Role
You will be the main point of contact and will deliver an end-to-end tenancy management service, proactively managing the customer relationship. You will ensure our customers’ needs are met and exceeded whilst searching for innovative ways to enable as many people as possible to benefit from our limited housing resource. You will provide support and advice to other members of the team.
The role is responsible for all aspects of tenancy management, and your responsibilities include:
- Embed a great service culture that promotes and embraces high levels of tenant and community engagement and involvement; and that reflects Squared’s values.
- Providing a flexible and responsive service to meet the needs of our customers.
- Assessing the needs of customers applying for housing through choice based letting and our transfer process.
- Rent arrears control including filing particulars of claim and representation at court.
- Closely monitoring void levels, rent collection, rent arrears and other key performance indicators; taking action to ensure targets are met and relevant Squared policies and procedures are followed.
- Ensuring risk issues relating to ASB are considered, cases are proactively managed and that tenants and stakeholders are encouraged to address conflicts using self-help techniques.
- Ensuring safeguarding issues are addressed in accordance with Squared’s Safeguarding policy.
- Estate inspections: Inspecting communal areas and estates, raising and following up on appropriate corrective actions to customer resolution.
- Estate and facilities management: Providing a responsive and efficient estate, block and facilities management service to ensure residents’ communal areas and neighbourhoods are pleasant, well-maintained and safe place to live.
- Empty homes monitoring and control, including carrying out pre-void inspections.
- ASB: Tackling and reducing the effects of anti-social behaviour on estates and in communal areas. Escalating cases through the legal framework as necessary; including attending and representing Squared as Landlord at court and liaising with Solicitors when necessary.
- Keeping on top of housing sector knowledge: including knowledge around property management, service charges, health and safety, personal safety and working with vulnerable people.
- Lettings and allocation of property, including different types of tenancy agreements.
- Staying up to date with working knowledge of welfare benefits and welfare reforms and ensuring the team is updated.
- Liaising with all relevant external agencies, local authorities and other partners, including other Squared departments and stakeholders; to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction with our services.
Due to travelling between sites it is essential that you have a full clean UK driving licence with access to your own vehicle for work purposes. Please note, this role will be subject to a DBS check.
The Person
As an experienced housing professional, you will be able to hit the ground running to manage our housing portfolio. You will come with strong housing knowledge having worked in similar roles having managed all the above listed elements of the role. You will be used to building strong working relationships, not only with your customers but with other teams within the organisation and external partners to ensure we are meeting our business objectives and providing the best service possible.
So, if you welcome the challenge, and are capable of marrying strong self-management and administrative skills with empathy and support for individuals yet capable of being tough when needed, we’d love to hear from you.
Benefits
- 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
- Contributory Pension
- Free parking at our Bramingham Office
Housing Officer in Luton employer: RGIT Australia
At Squared, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where our employees can thrive. As a not-for-profit housing association based in Luton and South Bedfordshire, we offer flexible working hours, generous annual leave, and opportunities for professional growth while making a meaningful impact in the community. Join us in our mission to provide affordable housing and support to those in need, all within a friendly and collaborative team culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Officer in Luton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the housing sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Squared and its values. Understand their approach to community engagement and how you can contribute to their mission. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or in front of a mirror. Focus on articulating your experience in tenancy management and how you've tackled challenges in previous roles. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Squared.
We think you need these skills to ace Housing Officer in Luton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience and skills that match the Housing Officer role. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission at Squared, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your People Skills:As a Housing Officer, you'll be dealing with a variety of customers and stakeholders. Use your application to demonstrate your ability to build strong relationships and provide excellent customer service. Share examples of how you've successfully managed tenant relationships in the past.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out. This will help us quickly see why you’re a great fit for the role!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the position. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at RGIT Australia
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your housing knowledge before the interview. Understand the key responsibilities of a Housing Officer, especially around tenancy management and customer engagement. Familiarise yourself with Squared's values and how they align with your own.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your ability to manage tenancies, handle rent arrears, and tackle anti-social behaviour. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.
✨Engage with Empathy
Since this role involves working closely with vulnerable individuals, be ready to discuss how you’ve supported customers in the past. Highlight your ability to build strong relationships and provide guidance, showing that you genuinely care about their needs and aspirations.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could include inquiries about the team culture, challenges faced by the Homes department, or how success is measured in the role. It shows your interest and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
