Rehousing Officer
4Recruitment Services
Taunton, GB
4Recruitment Services are seeking a Rehousing Officer for our client based in Taunton, Somerset.The post holder will be required to work within the Councils Lettings Team and will be responsible for identifying and helping council housing tenants who are under-occupying their current property to downsize.The key objectives areto ensure the housing waiting lists are reduced, overcrowded households are provided with suitable alternative housing, increase the use of Homeswapper, the council mutual exchange system, reduce overcrowding within the local housing sector, manage flow of new tenants into social housing, reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation and the cost, and provide better incentives for tenants to move and contribute towards creating sustainable communities. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: Engage frequently with tenants, their family, and friends, providing solutions to meet their housing needs. Responsible for ensuring relevant documentation is completed, for example: housing register application forms, tenancy agreements, tenancy termination forms, grant/tenant incentive forms and welfare benefit change of circumstances forms. Responsible for updating the housing management system with changes to tenancies. Responsible for determination of value of grants awarded under Somerset Council s Transfer Removal Grant scheme, ensuring all internal financial processes are followed, resulting in tenants receiving their payments. Create and deliver the following reports: periodic list of all the financial incentives awarded to tenants' year to date up to an annual value of £25,000, quarterly reporting on location data, case studies and issues, postcode monitoring, end of year and final reports. Subject to policy and guidelines the postholder will decide upon who is eligible and those who will be entitled to receive incentives including a grant payment, additional support, and assistance. Improve self-service to customers on Homeswapper system, improving a tenant s ability to access another social home both within the local area and beyond. Engage with teams inside and outside of the Council, including Village Agents, Sheltered Housing Team, General Needs Housing Team, Lettings Team, Home removal companies, House cleaning companies, Grounds maintenance providers, Utility suppliers, Revenues and Benefits Team, DWP Universal Credit Team, Housing Associations, etc Liaise regularly with the Housing Property Void Team to ensure all works are completed within specified deadlines Co-operating with other local authorities and/or housing associations Co-operating with key partners and the police to deter anti-social behaviour within neighbourhoods and agencies to deter domestic abuse ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE: Knowledge of the demographics of the housing tenants, the local community and wider sub regional impacts, such as Hinkley Point, in respect of properties for letting and impacts on homelessness. Knowledge of income management work and best practice in a housing organisation context. Detailed and extensive professional and technical knowledge of allocations and lettings policy and practice. Detailed and extensive professional and technical knowledge of wider housing management policy and practice, housing law and best practice relating to neighbourhood and tenancy management. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and housing applications (Open Housing System, Homefinder Somerset, Choice Based Lettings system, Home Swapper Mutual Exchange System) Knowledge of services across Somerset Council, for example Children s services, adult social care and community mental health. What we offer: 24 hour one on one specialist consultant based within your geographical area 4Recruitment Services Employee Benefits Programme Our own dedicated payroll support ensuring you get the full benefits of your payment 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 or email.