Income Housing Officer
To start 5th August until 1st December 2024
Hours 37 per week
Working 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm on Friday's
Pay rate £16.63 per hour
Office Bournemouth location
The role will be mainly carried out remotely, office attendance for training, ICT set up, and ADHOC meetings
Ideally candidate will drive and have their own car
Previous local authority housing experience would be ideal although not essential
About the Income Housing Officer role-
To be responsible for maximising income through the effective recovery of rent arrears and provide a proactive and efficient service. This will primarily include the management of arrears cases, providing rent and arrears advice and liaising with tenants regarding the implications of welfare reform. Attending court and working with external agencies.
Key responsibilities
- To pursue rent arrears in line with Local Authority Rent Arrears Policy and Procedure
- To control the recovery of current rent arrears through correspondence, home visits, telephone calls and face to face interviews in order to make repayment arrangements.
- Prepare and serve notices in order to initiate legal action against tenants for non-payment of rent.
- To prepare Court papers ensuring compliance with the Rent Arrears Pre-action Protocol
- To represent Local Authority at County Court in rent arrears possession cases and applications to suspend warrants.
- To prepare reports for approval for the application of a Warrant for Possession.
- To notify the CMHT on all cases where an application is made for a Warrant of Possession in accordance with the Joint Protocol with CMHT. To manage the case as appropriate in relation to the relevant mental health issue.
- To liaise with the County Court Bailiffs and to attend evictions.
- To give accurate advice and information to customers, keeping up-to-date with policy and procedures and best practice
- Provide welfare benefits information and assistance to tenants with a view to maximising tenant's income.
- Provide information on debt advice and assistance to tenants with a view to reducing rent arrears and other debt problem
- To work in partnership with internal and external agencies including the Housing Benefit department, Citizens Advice Bureau, Police, Shelter, Residents groups and other appropriate agencies
- To help develop and deliver team plans and individual targets and positively contribute to improvement activity and projects providing information where necessary.
- To ensure up-to-date and accurate information is maintained on all IT and other information systems.
- Maintain high levels of customer care at all times
- To be able to identify fraudulent Housing Benefit claims and act appropriately.
- To respond directly to the enquiries of elected members and senior managers on issues relating to income recovery.
- To assist the Homes Team in undertaking other duties when required.
Specific Qualifications and Experience
Level 4 diploma in a relevant subject or be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills, and proven experience in income management.
Good working knowledge of the processes, procedures and policies relating to income management.
Experience of managing a complex caseload and working on own initiative within defined parameters to achieve suitable outcomes.
- Experience of enforcement and legal proceedings to deal with rent recovery including attendance at court.
- Experience of working with colleagues, external partners, other public sector agencies and the voluntary sector to resolve cases.
- Experience of working with tenants to obtain their co-operation to resolve rent arrears.
Personal Qualities & Attributes
Ability to apply tact, diplomacy and awareness.
Good verbal and written communication skills.
Providing high levels of customer care.
Keen to learn new skills
Ability to exercise judgment, sensitivity and discretion to manage cases.
- You will be an influencer, persuasive and including using tact and professionalism to diffuse confrontational situations.
Job requirements
DBS will be required to carry out the role
If you don't have a car you will need to have access to good public transportation service to travel to court, home visits and meetings where required
There may be a requirement to work outside of normal hours.