Income Officer

Watford

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000

Permanent, 37 hours per week

The Vacancy

As an Income Officer, you’ll play a key role in helping residents sustain their tenancies while ensuring the organisation can continue delivering great services. You’ll manage a patch of properties, working directly with customers to resolve arrears, prevent debt from escalating, and provide support that makes a real difference to people’s lives. This is a varied role that combines customer contact, problem-solving, partnership working and legal processes — ideal for someone who enjoys a mix of independence and teamwork.

Introduction to the Role

At Chime Housing, we provide vital services that help people to live better lives. We’re looking for an Income Officer to join our Housing team and play a key role in supporting residents to sustain their tenancies, while helping us maximise the income we need to deliver great services.

Role Purpose

To provide a proactive income and arrears management service for a defined patch, ensuring customers receive the support they need to maintain successful tenancies.

What’s the Role?

Key Accountabilities:

• Manage rent arrears and tenancy-related debts in line with policy, procedures and best practice.
• Reduce debt owed in rent and service charges through early intervention and effective case management.
• Work closely with Lettings colleagues to prevent arrears for new customers.
• Support tenancy sustainment by identifying vulnerabilities and referring to safeguarding, social services, mental health teams and other agencies where appropriate.
• Take appropriate action to prevent arrears escalation, including making affordable repayment agreements, serving notices, preparing legal paperwork and presenting cases in court.
• Monitor payment defaults following legal action and take further steps where required.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure regular contact with tenants.
• Provide advice on budgeting, income and expenditure, and welfare benefits, referring complex cases to specialist agencies.
• Liaise with Housing Benefit and the DWP (Universal Credit) to resolve claims and adjustments.
• Set up and amend direct debits in response to customer or Housing Benefit changes.
• Carry out home visits and office appointments to discuss arrears.
• Reconcile payments and adjustments with the Finance Team.
• Achieve agreed income recovery targets for rent collection and arrears reduction.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role.