Description
Housing Options Visiting Officer
Location: Barnet, North London
Contract: Long-term ongoing temporary assignment
Pay: £20.70 per hour
Driving: Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle essential
We are currently recruiting for a Housing Options Visiting Officer to join a well-established housing organisation in North London, supporting its Housing Options service.
The organisation plays an important role in providing housing support to local residents, helping individuals and families experiencing housing difficulties access suitable accommodation and ensuring that temporary housing is safe, appropriate and well managed.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in housing, tenancy management, property inspections or a customer-facing local authority or housing association role.
The Role
You will be responsible for carrying out planned and unannounced visits to temporary accommodation properties, ensuring that properties are being occupied by the correct residents and that accommodation is being used appropriately.
Working closely with the Housing Options and Emergency Accommodation teams, you will help maintain high standards across the temporary accommodation portfolio, identify potential issues and ensure residents are receiving the appropriate support.
- Conduct planned and unannounced occupancy checks at temporary accommodation properties.
- Visit residents to verify occupancy, applicant details and household circumstances.
- Identify and report suspected tenancy or occupancy fraud, escalating concerns to the relevant teams.
- Record detailed and accurate findings, maintaining up-to-date case notes and property inspection records.
- Identify and report property disrepair and maintenance issues to the relevant departments.
- Engage directly with residents, including vulnerable individuals and families experiencing housing difficulties.
- Provide appropriate housing advice, guidance and signposting to residents.
- Identify safeguarding concerns and follow the relevant procedures and policies.
- Work collaboratively with internal departments, accommodation providers and external agencies.
- Ensure temporary accommodation is being managed effectively and residents are receiving a good standard of service
About You
- Has experience within social housing, housing options, temporary accommodation, tenancy management or a similar environment.
- Has experience conducting property visits, inspections or occupancy checks.
- Is confident engaging with a diverse range of residents, including vulnerable customers.
- Can manage challenging or confrontational situations professionally.
- Has strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Is organised, proactive and able to manage their own workload independently.
- Has good IT skills and can maintain accurate records and case notes.
- Has an understanding of housing or homelessness legislation and safeguarding procedures.
- Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle, as regular travel between properties is essential.
Enhanced DBS: Candidates who already hold an Enhanced DBS certificate and are registered on the DBS Update Service will be particularly advantageous.
If you have a background in social housing and enjoy a varied, hands-on role where you can make a real difference to residents, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today to be considered for an immediate start.