Lettings Officer

Housing Choices Officer / Lettings Officer
Plymouth
Temporary
Full Time
We are currently recruiting for a Housing Choices Officer/ Lettings Officer to join a Plymouth-based housing team, supporting customers through choice-based lettings, mutual exchanges and staircasing while delivering an efficient and customer-focused housing service.
THE ROLE
As a Housing Choices Officer, you will provide advice and support to customers throughout the housing process, with a particular focus on choice-based lettings, mutual exchanges and staircasing. You will manage applications and enquiries effectively, ensuring customers receive accurate advice and that cases are progressed in line with policies, procedures and service standards.
Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing housing applications and allocations through a choice-based lettings scheme, including shortlisting applicants and ensuring properties are allocated in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Providing advice and guidance to customers around housing options, including choice-based lettings, mutual exchanges and staircasing.
• Assessing applicants' circumstances, eligibility, affordability and housing needs to ensure appropriate housing solutions are identified.
• Processing mutual exchange applications and liaising with customers and relevant internal teams to progress exchanges efficiently.
• Supporting customers with staircasing enquiries and applications, ensuring processes are followed accurately and customers are kept informed throughout.
• Maintaining accurate electronic records, managing correspondence and ensuring cases are progressed within agreed timescales and KPIs.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and partner services to resolve housing queries, identify appropriate solutions and provide a high standard of customer service.

THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will have previous experience within a housing allocations, lettings or housing options role, with practical knowledge of choice-based lettings and experience dealing with customers throughout the housing process.
You will also have:

• Proven experience of working with choice-based lettings and property allocations, including shortlisting and assessing applicants.
• Experience dealing with mutual exchanges and/or staircasing, with a good understanding of the processes involved.
• Strong customer service and communication skills, with the ability to explain housing processes clearly and sensitively to a diverse range of customers.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage a busy caseload, prioritise competing demands and consistently meet KPIs and deadlines.
• Good knowledge of housing policies, procedures and relevant legislation, together with strong IT skills and experience maintaining accurate case records.

Experience of working within a housing association or local authority environment would be highly advantageous.
THE CONTRACT
Working Hours: Full Time, Monday to Friday
Length of Contract: 3 Month Contract, potential for extension
Location: Plymouth – Hybrid working, 2 days per week in the office
Property Visits: No property visits required
Rate: The pay range for the role is £20.00 to £24.00 per hour LTD company rate. The PAYE equivalent is  £17.05 to £20.46 per hour, inclusive of holiday.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this role, please email a copy of your CV to bethany.wiles@servicecare.org.uk or call on 01772 208966 to discuss the role in more detail!