Job Title: Accommodation Officer

Job Evaluation Reference: BC604

Job Family: Buildings & Construction

Purpose and impact
1.
To efficiently manage all aspects of the council’s supply of temporary accommodation across Dorset Council.
2.
To ensure rent is paid on each placement, following the Housing Debt Management Process to reduce liability to the Council.
Key Responsibilities
3.
To manage the physical condition of the directly managed temporary accommodation so that it is in a permanent lettable state, conduct inspections, book repairs, maintenance, organise redecoration, and ensure any communal areas are clean and safe.
4.
To control the council’s financial liability through the local housing debt management process, pursue accommodation charges, monitor HB payments and work closely with housing finance team.
5.
To maintain and update comprehensive records in connection with the management, maintenance and costs associated with the council’s temporary accommodation and occupants as required.
6.
To obtain and monitor all mandatory safety certificates from those landlords, including Dorset Council, who provide emergency accommodation for homeless households.
To undertake regular visits checking on standards and services provided.
7.
Undertake joint visits with contractors, Property and Assets services where necessary, to reduce void costs and enable quick turnaround.
Also access arrangements to the properties when occupied.
8.
To work with and support leaseholder landlords who provide accommodation for homeless households to ensure the fabric of the building meets with the lease agreements.
9.
To work with and support B&B proprietors who provide our emergency homeless accommodation, to ensure successful client placements whilst in B&B.
10.
To arrange placement of clients into temporary accommodation, including sourcing and arranging B&B placements, continue to work with households until placements ended.
11.
Visit clients during their placements, to obtain all signed paperwork, and submit to relevant teams to fulfil income maximisation and the households are adhering to their placement agreements.
12.
To administer the movement of occupiers in and out of all forms of temporary accommodation and keep accurate records of all occupier’s movement and inform relevant teams.
13.
Any breaches in the occupier’s agreement serve warnings, issue notice to quit or last night in emergency accommodation.
Investigate suspected abandonment, eviction process, providing supporting evidence for legal services and representing in court.
14.
Organise storage and disposal of former occupiers’ possessions.
15.
To signpost to relevant agencies, partners and support services including Resettlement, Tenancy sustainment and Housing Officers.
16.
To act as a point of liaison, attend meetings and undertake joint visits, between the council and stakeholders, to include temporary accommodation landlords, the police and social services, and Housing Officers.
17.
Provide references for prospective landlords for those households leaving temporary accommodation around their conduct, arrears, and any Anti-Social Behaviour issues.
18.
To provide timely, accurate statistics for government returns and other in-house statistics on a monthly, or otherwise agreed basis.
19.
To develop and maintain an in-depth knowledge of relevant Housing legislation.
NB: The duties and responsibilities of this post are not restrictive, and the post holder may be required on occasion to undertake other duties.
This will not substantially change the nature of the post.

Supervision and management

20.
Reporting to: Housing Solutions Team Leader
21.
Responsibility for: No line management responsibility
Other Factors
22.
A Basic DBS Check will be required
23.
This position has a significant travel requirement.
This means that there is a requirement for a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the Council) to be available on most working days in order to carry out normal duties.
Employees in positions with a significant travel requirement are required to provide a replacement vehicle if their usual vehicle is not available over an extended period.