Job Details
Post Title: Rent Income Advisor
Department: Corporate Core Post No:
Location: The post holder will be based within the Bury campus and will be required to travel within the locality to deliver the requirements of the role.
Accountable to: Executive Director (Strategy & Transformation)
Immediately Responsible to: Income Collection Manager
Job Purpose and accountabilities:
• To maximise rental income, recover debts and prevent tenancy breakdown.
• Monitor current arrears cases ensuring prompt action is taken, including legal action where necessary to control and recover outstanding arrears.
• Support tenants to maximise their income including arranging welfare benefit and housing benefits advice and guidance on ways of dealing with debts, working with partners and customers to reduce and prevent rent arrears.
Key Responsibilities:
• Collect and case manage rent arrears and other charges including former tenant arrears, service charges and garage rent, by managing and monitoring accounts using housing management systems, including authorising appropriate legal action.
• Work with customers who are experiencing financial difficulties, identify the reasons for debt, offer advice and negotiate agreements to pay rent and arrears. Liaise with partner agencies, signpost and refer customers, as appropriate.
• Promote a rent first culture within the team, the wider organisation and with tenants.
• Prepare legal documentation relating to rent arrears for Court, Introductory Tenancy Review Panel Hearings and Extension Review Panel Hearings.
• Conduct interviews with tenants including carrying out home visits in line with policies and procedures. Ensure that appropriate, tailor-made solutions are offered in the best interest of the customer and the company in accordance with policy, best practice and relevant legislation.
• Undertake trial benefit assessments and help customers maximise their income and opportunities by encouraging them to take up benefits / other grants and engage in capacity building, training, work and other programmes. Signpost to welfare and debt advice services, as appropriate.
• Represent the organisation in legal proceedings taken against tenants for non payment of rent, present cases, give evidence in person, act as a witness and be cross examined at Court and Introductory Tenancy Review Hearings, as appropriate. Answer any defence submitted and challenge any inaccurate statements made, as appropriate.
• Oversee evictions and assist the Court Bailiff to ensure vacant possession of properties, as appropriate.
• Manage Court orders, ensuring any terms are complied with and any Court directives are met within specified timescales
• Provide cover for the assistant Rent Control Advisor as appropriate.
• Ensure housing management systems are updated with accurate tenant information and quality notes where required.
• Listens to and respects the opinions of others
• Takes responsibility for own development and asks for, reflects upon and acts on feedback
• As an employee of Bury Council you have a responsibility for, and must be committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and for ensuring that they are protected from harm.
• Bury Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and expects all staff to comply with its equality related policies/procedures, and to treat others with fairness and respect.
SHORT LISTING AND INTERVIEW CRITERIA ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE ASSESSMENT METHOD
- An experienced housing professional with a working knowledge of supported housing and tenancy management services. X Application Form / Interview
- Passionate about our customers and always act with them in mind. X Application Form / Interview
- Great at building and maintaining relationships. X Application Form / Interview
- Driven and inspired by our Values. X Application Form / Interview
- Resilient, accept uncertainty and change, with the ability to adapt to fluctuating workloads, situations and conflicting demands. X Application Form / Interview
- Able to deliver outstanding performance and meet challenging deadlines. X Application Form / Interview
- An excellent communicator and great at collaboration with internal and external partners. X Application Form / Interview
- Happy to work in an agile way. X Application Form / Interview
- Able to make swift and sound decisions, even difficult ones, without reference to others in the best interest of the organisation and our customers. X Application Form / Interview
- Knowledgeable on relevant legislation and regulation. X Application Form / Interview
- Passionate about yours and others health and safety X Application Form / Interview
- Self-motivated, with the ability to manage your own workload, focus on what is important to achieve goals and resolve competing priorities, in a timely manner. X Application Form / Interview
- Excellent communication skills – you will be able to communicate effec-tively with all stakeholders using a variety of mediums. X Application Form / Interview
- A wide variety of knowledge of wel-fare benefits and an ability to apply knowledge to different scenarios. X Application Form / Interview
If you are interested in this role please do reach out to me via email or telephone!
amberrayment@carringtonblakerecruitment.com
020 753 766 07
