A fantastic opportunity has emerged for a Private Rented Sector Officer to join one of Adecco’s key public sector clients in a temporary role for the next 6 months.
The right candidate will increase the supply of private rented properties available to clients of the Council’s Housing Options Team. You will proactively develop links and positive working relationships with private landlords and letting agents to source homes in the private rented sector. By doing so, you will contribute to a proactive service for people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, by maximising opportunities for them to rent privately.
Based in Haywards Heath in West Sussex but with a requirement to travel around other boroughs locally, this is a full time role (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday). You will ideally have experience in local authority housing and preferably in a similar role where you have assisted customers in seeking and securing privately rented accommodation. You will also provide a tenancy sustainment service to tenants who have been assisted under the Council’s Rent in Advance and Deposit Guarantee Scheme, liaising with their landlords and the Council’s Housing Benefit Department where necessary to resolve problems and prevent homelessness.
Other key elements of the role include:
Providing a tenancy sustainment service to private sector tenants & landlords who have approached the Council and are at risk of homelessness as well as those who have been assisted under the Council’s Rent in Advance and Deposit Guarantee Scheme, liaising with their landlords and the Council’s Housing Benefit Department where necessary to resolve problems and prevent homelessness.
Providing assistance and mediation to tenants and private landlords in relation to rent payments impacted by welfare benefit changes including Universal Credit in order to prevent homelessness
Proactively develop links and positive working relationships with private landlords and letting agents to ensure a supply of private rented homes is available to households referred to the post holder by colleagues in the Council’s Housing Options Team, in order to prevent homelessness wherever possible.
Sourcing suitable, affordable private lettings with new and existing landlords that would enable the Council to discharge its full homelessness duty into the private rented sector where this is considered appropriate.
Working closely with colleagues in the Housing Options Team to operate the Council’s Rent in Advance and Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Investigating claims against Deposit Guarantees in liaison with the Senior Private Housing Options Officer, including inspection of properties as required, negotiating with landlords, agents and tenants to reach an equitable settlement.
Assisting with the provision of tenancy training for clients referred by the Housing Options Team to enable them to prepare for and then sustain their tenancies.
Liaising where necessary with support providers and voluntary agencies to ensure that appropriate support is secured for clients so as to prevent homelessness.
Carrying out visual property inspections (condition, safety checks etc.) with potential landlords to assess the suitability of their properties and make recommendations where remedial works are required in liaison with the Council’s Housing Standards Team.
Assisting in maintaining a database of information on private landlords who have been engaged by the post holder, for use by the Housing Options Team.
Carrying out affordability assessments in line with the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) Order , case law and Homelessness Code of Guidance.
The successful candidate will not need to come into the Haywards Heath office everyday (only 2 days each week), but will need to be prepared to travel regularly across different boroughs as they will need to attend property inspections etc as well as meeting with customers and other members of staff.
Only applicants who are happy to work in and around the Haywards Heath area of West Sussex, are available to start on short notice (2 week’s maximum) and feel they meet the above criteria need apply for this role. Please note, a car driver and owner is essential.
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