At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage rent arrears and support tenants with Universal Credit claims.
- Company: Dynamic letting and management organisation in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, birthday holiday entitlement, and future healthcare options.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in rent collection or debt recovery, strong communication skills.
- Other info: Part-time options available, excellent career growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 40000 £ per year.
Our Client is a unique Letting & Management organisation offering traditional rental services. In addition, the practice is one of London’s most successful Rent Guarantee Service Provision Specialists, procuring all types of property for Local and Central Government to fulfil their Emergency Housing needs. The successful candidate must be dynamic, organized, have excellent people skills, articulate and ambitious.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Arrears Management - Monitoring rent accounts regularly to identify early-stage arrears and take prompt, effective recovery action in line with organisational policy.
- Universal Credit Specialism - Providing expert guidance to tenants on making and managing Universal Credit (UC) claims, including assisting with the "housing element" to ensure payments are accurate and timely.
- Alternative Payment Arrangements - Identifying high-risk cases and apply for Managed Payments to Landlords (direct rent payments) or third-party deductions for arrears where appropriate.
- Tenancy Sustainment - Conducting detailed affordability assessments and income/expenditure reviews to set up sustainable repayment plans that prevent homelessness.
- Legal Action and Court Representation - Preparing comprehensive evidence for Possession Claims and assist in County Court hearings, seeking possession orders where necessary.
- Liaison and Partnership - Acting as the main point of contact for the local authority Housing Benefit teams to resolve complex payment disputes.
- Eviction Support - Liaising alongside court-appointed bailiffs when recovery efforts fail and legal possession is granted.
The Successful Applicant will need to possess the following skills:
- At least 2 years experience within a similar role.
- Social Housing Experience: Proven track record in rent collection or debt recovery within a local authority or housing association.
- Welfare Reform Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of the Welfare Reform Act, specifically how UC impacts vulnerable tenants and those on legacy benefits.
- Legal Procedures: Strong understanding of Landlord and Tenant legislation and the Pre-Action Protocol for Rent Arrears.
- Benefit Advocacy: Experience in helping tenants apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) and other hardship funds.
- Negotiation: Ability to have difficult conversations with empathy while remaining firm on repayment targets.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills for drafting legal notices, court reports, and communicating complex benefit rules to tenants.
- IT Literacy: Proficient in housing management CRM systems and Microsoft Office.
- Numerical Accuracy: High level of attention to detail for calculating complex arrears balances and manual benefit adjustments.
- Resilient: Capable of managing an emotionally demanding caseload and handling challenging behaviour with professionalism.
- Target-Driven: Motivated by meeting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to arrears reduction and collection rates.
- Organised: Skilled at managing multiple priorities and meeting strict legal and administrative deadlines.
The hours will be: Monday – Friday: 9am to 6pm
Salary range will be: £35,000 to £40,000 per annum basic (this role can be part time 21 hours a week)
Company Benefits:
- Birthday Holiday Entitlement
- 1.5 days additional holiday entitlement for every 2 years of service (capped at 6 extra days).
- Future company healthcare options
- Bonus & additional earning incentives
If this role is of interest to you and you have the necessary role requirements, please submit your most up to date CV and contact details to Graham Green at Roundpegs Property Recruitment today. Due to the high volume of enquiries that we receive, we are not always able to respond to all CVs. If you have not received a response within one week, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful in this instance. Thank you for your interest in Roundpegs Recruitment. If you are already registered with Roundpegs Recruitment, please express your interest in this role to your consultant.
Rent Recovery Officer - Woodford E18 employer: Round Pegs Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Round Pegs Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Rent Recovery Officer - Woodford E18
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the housing sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have a lead or be able to put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching common questions for Rent Recovery Officers. Practice your responses, especially around arrears management and Universal Credit. Confidence is key, so get comfortable talking about your experience!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, highlight your negotiation skills and your understanding of legal procedures. Use real-life examples to demonstrate how you've successfully managed difficult situations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s a great way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Rent Recovery Officer - Woodford E18
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Rent Recovery Officer role. Highlight your experience in arrears management and any relevant social housing experience. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Show Off Your Skills: In your cover letter, don’t just list your qualifications—show us how you’ve used them in real situations. Talk about your negotiation skills or how you've helped tenants with Universal Credit claims. We love a good story!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the heart of your experience.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s super easy and ensures your application goes directly to us. Don’t miss out on this opportunity—hit that apply button!
How to prepare for a job interview at Round Pegs Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the Welfare Reform Act and how Universal Credit affects tenants. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the role, but that you truly understand the challenges faced by tenants.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a Rent Recovery Officer, you'll need to have excellent communication skills. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated difficult conversations in the past. This could be about negotiating repayment plans or helping tenants through complex benefit applications.
✨Demonstrate Organisational Skills
Be ready to talk about how you manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. You might want to share specific tools or methods you use to keep track of cases and ensure timely follow-ups, especially when dealing with arrears management.
✨Prepare for Legal Discussions
Since the role involves legal action and court representation, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of landlord and tenant legislation. Think of scenarios where you've prepared evidence for possession claims or dealt with court hearings, and be ready to discuss them.