4Recruitment Services are seeking a Housing Revenue Collection Officer to work for our client based in Redditch.

The client will allow hybrid, 2 office days  and 3 days working from home.

Purpose of the role:

• Have responsibility for managing the rental income for a portfolio of properties in a defined neighbourhood in the Borough.
• To deliver an effective revenue income collection and recovery service in accordance with legislation, the Councils policies, performance standards, targets and customer satisfaction requirements.
• Maximise all housing revenue streams by collaborating with the neighbourhood and tenancy team, housing benefit, DWP and other internal/external partners.
• Develop a tenancy sustainment culture with prevention at the forefront of everything you do. Reducing the risk of homelessness and identifying those most in need of support and tenancy sustainment intervention.
• Support the leadership team in service development and implementation of projects, strategies, initiatives.
• To fulfil the Local Authorities legal obligations to provide professional housing services as set out in the relevant Housing Acts, Localism Act, Local Government Act and the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Maximise revenue collection in line with targets to recover rent arrears and to enforce related tenancy conditions with emphasis placed on early intervention.
• Monitor tenants rent accounts and take prompt action in accordance with the pre-action protocol and Councils rent collection policy and procedures to prevent the accumulation of debt and homelessness.
• Management of sub accounts for court costs and introductory tenancies. Ensuring effective transfer of payments and regular monitoring of cases.
• Provide advice on housing and other welfare benefits to tenants and assist them in maximising income and benefit entitlement.
• Assist vulnerable tenants through referring to internal and external support agencies, where appropriate, to ensure that tenancies can be sustained, and tenant’s needs are met.
• Be responsible for preparing timely and accurate reports on arrears cases and attend Court, prepare all relevant Court papers, and represent the Council in court on possession cases for nonpayment of rent.
• Conduct interviews and undertake home visits to tenants in connection with matters relating to rent payment and the recovery of arrears. Ensuring a presence is maintained in the community.
• Create and deliver rent surgeries for schemes with the Borough to assist the tenants with payment issues, creating a positive payment culture and signpost when necessary.
• Effectively liaise with Neighbourhood & Tenancy Officers to ensure the delivery of coordinated and efficient services to each resident. Including updating household records on IT systems.
• Be available to attend the sign up of new tenancies and other tenancy sustainment visits. Provide advice to the tenant on their responsibilities regarding rent payments. Identify if benefit or debt advice is required and make referrals to the Tenancy Sustainment service where appropriate.  
• Administration of payment methods including online, phone, payment cards and Direct Debits including creation and relevant amendments based on payment arrangements.
• Work with other agencies and internal departments such as Housing Benefits, DWP, CAB, Solicitors and the Courts in delivering an efficient and effective service.
• Adapt customer care to working practices through a customer- first approach, ensuring that customers are treated with respect and courtesy and experience an accountable service. To adhere to corporate standards of customer care in respect of answering correspondence, telephones, and complaints.
• Support investigations and provide relevant documentation and statements for appeals, complaints, and enquiries. In a legal challenge, Judicial Review or Ombudsman Enquiry, cooperate with managers and other relevant officers to prepare more detailed documentation.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

• Minimum Level 2 qualifications in subjects relevant to the role.
• Level 3 qualification related to housing management and social housing practices (or be working towards/willing to work towards it).
• At least 2 years demonstrable experience working in the social housing sector, or in another relevant customer-facing service, demonstrating transferable skills or lived experience.
• In-depth understanding of the costs of tenancy failure on both tenants, their households, and the Council.
• Experience of collaboration and partnership working that has achieved excellent outcomes for people and improved service performance.
• Have extensive experience of representing landlords in civil courts for possession claims, variations of orders, warrants for eviction and stay hearings and standing as a witness and preparing for and attending evictions

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy in further detail or any other vacancies, please contact our Team on 0800 988 6307 or email  gpadmin@4recruitmentservices.com