Housing Officer

Job Title: Housing Officer
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,965.41 (£27,112.48 is achieved after 18 months successful performance in the role)
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: 5 days per week including alternate weekends and some bank holidays
Location: Bracken Court, Leeds
For your application to be considered please ensure you attach a current CV and cover letter. 
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
Why Riverside?
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives. 
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.
Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension 
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits 

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues. 
Application Process:
If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact as a Housing Officer, we encourage you to apply with your CV and cover letter. 
We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the criteria on the job description, at Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience.  
The difference you will make as a Housing Officer
This role is based at Bracken Court in Leeds.
Bracken Court contains 50 units and tenants stay for an average of between 6 months to 1 year.
We provide a Housing Management service to assist move on and make tenants ready for permanent accommodation.
You will work as part of a committed team and undertake a range of tasks to deliver an outstanding housing management service across several property types, ensuring you are always putting the customer first.
About You
We are looking for someone with:

• A friendly and positive can-do attitude 
• Experience in customer facing roles delivering excellent customer service
• Strong administration & IT skills including report and assessment writing using Microsoft Office
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbally
• Ability to work under pressure in challenging situations
• Strong attention to detail with analytical skills
• An interest in the UK Benefits System and Housing & Immigration Law
• An open mind who is willing to develop and learn new skills
• Customer Service background
• An interest in Housing and Housing Law, UK benefits, increasingly Immigration and Immigration Law  

Ideally the role holder will have a driving licence as the role may require travel across West Yorkshire. Business mileage is reimbursed in line with Riverside policy.
Role Profile
Deliver an Allocation & Letting Service:

• Liaise with external stakeholders to deliver an effective referral pathway into the service/properties
• Ensure occupancy targets are met, through lettings and refurbishment of empty properties in line with the scheme’s re-allocation procedures
• Allocate properties ensuring customers meet the criteria, affordability and required landlord checks
• Meet with customers to provide practical support with setting up a new tenancy, ensuring all documents are complete and liaising with external stakeholders if required
• Show new customers the accommodation and communal amenities, clearly communicating tenant responsibilities and compliance to enable them to fulfil and maximise their tenancy
• Visit new customers to make sure they are settling into their accommodation and are being supported to follow their tenancy agreement

Deliver a Housing Management Service:

Be responsible for ensuring empty properties are referred to Asset colleagues for void works, following the void procedure to ensure rooms are ready-to-let

Report and monitor the delivery of reactive repairs within properties to ensure they are maintained and health and safety compliant

Liaise with contractors and colleagues around planned maintenance programmes, ensuring that on-site delivery is well co-ordinated and in line with customer requirements

Undertake day-to-day housing management duties, ensuring high standards of cleanliness are maintained within services and that rooms are prepared, ready for site inspections

Proactively support customers experiencing issues that may put their accommodation at risk; where appropriate issuing warnings and Notices to Determine (NTDs) in consultation with Service Managers

Prepare files and case notes in readiness for court

Deliver a tenancy sustainment advice service to support customers to maintain their accommodation, e.g. claiming correct benefits

Work directly with customers to monitor or reduce issues of anti-social behaviour within the service

Meet regularly with customers to discuss ways to improve their accommodation, promoting involvement and consultation on matters impacting their housingEnsure the safety of our customers by recognizing and acting on any risk by following local safeguarding procedures...