Who You Are The ideal candidate for the Housing Officer position is someone with a comprehensive understanding of the legal duties owed to customers experiencing or threatened with homelessness. You should possess a strong awareness of resources provided by statutory and voluntary organizations, beyond just housing. A good knowledge of relevant legislation, such as Landlord and Tenant laws, Family and Immigration law, welfare, housing benefits, and the Children Act, is essential. Additionally, you should possess a strong aptitude for managing rent accounts and housing management functions, with an appreciation for the stressful situations clients may face. You have demonstrable experience in providing customer advice in housing or similar services, managing caseloads in tenancy, property, or income management, and you're adept at working with databases and document management systems. You embody the TOWER values by working collaboratively with partners, being open and transparent, willing to challenge and innovate, empowering others, and respecting all communities. A current driving license and the ability to travel outside London for home visits when necessary is desirable. What the Job Involves As a Housing Officer, you are responsible for overseeing a portfolio of temporary accommodations, ensuring all properties comply with Health and Safety standards and Council requirements. Your tasks include managing the relationships between landlords and tenants, adding new properties to the database, and minimizing void periods. You are the primary point of contact for tenants, providing guidance from initial viewing to move-on, and ensuring tenants receive appropriate housing advice. You conduct property inspections, address disrepair issues, and undertake enforcement actions for breaches of license conditions. In your role, you help customers maximize income, manage rent arrears, and provide debt counseling when necessary. You are required to prepare documentation for legal proceedings and handle a range of enquiries and complaints. You contribute to the council's priorities by promoting equality, sustainability, and organizational change. Additionally, you cover for other officers as needed, ensuring performance targets and customer service standards are met. Your role involves extensive liaising with external bodies and internal teams to minimize debt and financial loss to the council.