Income Officer (Housing)

We are working with a local authority who are looking for a Income Officer to be responsible for maximising income through the effective recovery of rent arrears and provide a proactive and efficient service.

This will primarily include the management of arrears cases, providing rent and arrears advice and liaising with tenants regarding the implications of welfare reform. Attending court and working with external agencies.

Location: Southwest based Local Authority 

Set-up: Remote

Rate: £20.70 per hour via umbrella, inside IR35

Duration: Initial 4-month contract

Hours: Full-time position

Purpose of the job

Helping to provide safe, secure and sustainable homes for council tenants thereby enabling opportunities for people to live well. provide a comprehensive rent recovery service to tenants

Responsibilities include:

• To pursue rent arrears in line with the Council’s Rent Arrears Policy and Procedure
• To control the recovery of current rent arrears through correspondence, home visits, telephone calls and face to face interviews to make repayment arrangements
• To prepare and serve notices to initiate legal action against tenants for non-payment of rent
• To prepare Court papers ensuring compliance with the Rent Arrears Pre-action Protocol
• To represent the Council at County Court in rent arrears possession cases and applications to suspend warrants
• To prepare reports for approval for the application of a Warrant for Possession
• To notify the CMHT on all cases where an application is made for a Warrant of Possession in accordance with the Joint Protocol with CMHT
• To work in partnership with internal and external agencies including the Housing Benefit department, Citizens Advice Bureau, Police, Shelter, Residents groups and other appropriate agencies
• To be able to identify fraudulent Housing Benefit claims and act appropriately

Requirements:

• Good working knowledge of the processes, procedures and policies relating to income management
• Experience of managing a complex caseload and working on own initiative within defined parameters to achieve suitable outcomes
• Experience of enforcement and legal proceedings to deal with rent recovery including attendance at court
• Local Government experience required for initial shortlisting, then thereafter at the client’s discretion
• Must have an appropriate DBS check 

At Venn Group, we endeavour to respond to all applications However due to the volume of applications we receive, if you have not heard from us within 48 hours please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion