Housing Register Officer

3 Month Contract With A local Authority

Job Purpose

To assess and manage applications to the Housing Register, ensuring that households are accurately assessed, appropriately prioritised and provided with comprehensive housing advice. The postholder will determine eligibility, effective dates, levels of preference and relevant housing needs, while supporting applicants to access suitable accommodation and alternative housing options.

The role will contribute to effective housing allocations, homelessness prevention and sustainable housing outcomes for vulnerable customers, ensuring decisions and advice comply with relevant legislation, statutory guidance, the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme and associated policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess applications and re-registrations to the Housing Register, determining eligibility, qualification, effective dates, preference and special circumstances.
• Assess medical and welfare needs and determine appropriate priority in accordance with the Housing Allocations Scheme.
• Activate qualifying applications and provide clear written notification of decisions, including advice on review or alternative options where appropriate.
• Provide comprehensive, personalised housing advice covering social housing, private rented accommodation, mobility schemes and other available housing options.
• Coordinate the advertising and allocation of vacant Council and Registered Provider properties through Choice Based Lettings.
• Prepare and analyse shortlists and undertake direct matching in accordance with the Housing Allocations Scheme and designated priority groups.
• Verify applicants’ circumstances before allocation, including eligibility, financial circumstances, local connection, household needs and suitability to be a tenant.
• Conduct applicant interviews, home visits, desktop checks and other verification activity as required.
• Select and nominate suitable applicants for available properties and arrange viewings for matched cases.
• Undertake specialist matching for vulnerable applicants, including those with medical needs, requirements for adapted accommodation, hospital discharge cases, management transfers, under-occupation moves and sheltered accommodation.
• Work with Occupational Therapy and other specialist teams to identify suitable adapted or accessible properties.
• Allocate temporary accommodation and private rented sector accommodation for homelessness prevention and discharge of duty, ensuring placements comply with suitability assessments and relevant policies.
• Complete temporary accommodation, prevention and PRSO letting processes, including interviews, advice, documentation and system updates.
• Manage refusal processes where applicants decline accommodation offers, working with Team Leaders and Suitability Officers where this may affect the discharge of homelessness duties.
• Identify customers’ support needs and make appropriate referrals to tenancy sustainment, floating support, resettlement, prevention and specialist services.
• Provide advice on relevant housing policies, including the Housing Allocations Scheme, Decant Policy, Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy, Tenancy Strategy and Homelessness Strategy.
• Ensure customers understand the implications of refusing offers of accommodation and other decisions affecting their housing circumstances.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive electronic records, case notes, files, reports and monitoring information, ensuring records provide a clear audit trail.
• Use housing register and homelessness systems effectively to maintain customer records, support allocations and contribute to personal housing plans.
• Maintain accurate electronic files and ensure key documents and activities are recorded promptly.
• Monitor deadlines and performance requirements, particularly those relating to void turnaround, temporary accommodation and property lettings.
• Participate in telephone advice rotas and provide advice through interviews, correspondence, reception, home visits, outreach, surgeries, workshops and customer information sessions.
• Deal professionally with enquiries, complaints and correspondence from customers, advocates, solicitors, councillors, MPs, the Ombudsman and housing providers.
• Build effective partnerships with Registered Providers, other local authorities, statutory services, voluntary organisations, advice agencies and specialist support providers.
• Work collaboratively with health, social care, police, probation, youth offending and other agencies to develop sustainable housing solutions for customers with complex or multiple needs.
• Contribute to service development, procedure reviews, publicity and customer information materials.
• Represent the service at meetings with internal and external organisations and professional partners.
• Provide accurate performance and statistical information and contribute to monitoring housing allocations, offers, refusals, lettings and rehousing trends.
• Support the induction and training of new staff where required.
• Comply with relevant housing legislation, statutory guidance, Council policies, information governance, safeguarding, equality, health and safety and customer care requirements.
• Maintain a proactive, solutions-focused approach, identifying early intervention opportunities and pursuing appropriate housing options to prevent homelessness and achieve positive outcomes.