Housing Options Advisor

**Role Purpose**
- To interview and assess homeless people
- To prevent homelessness by promoting housing options
- To determine whether applicants are owed a statutory duty under the 1996 Housing Act, Part 7 as amended
- To advise those who are threatened with homelessness in order to prevent homelessness
- To assess the entitlements of single non-priority homeless people and give them statutory advice and assistance
- To participate in and help develop outreach work, such as advice surgeries
- To provide advice to private sector tenants

**Main Duties**
- To interview customers, to assess whether homelessness can be prevented in any way
- To assess whether those who are threatened with homelessness qualify for private sector options, based on the likelihood of their meeting the criteria for the full housing duty under the Housing Act Part 7 as amended
- To explain housing options clearly and lawfully to qualifying customers and to promote the idea, to interest as many customers as possible
- To negotiate with applicants and explain the benefits of taking up housing options in a positive way
- To complete interview notes and forms correctly
- To administer a case load of options cases and ensure they are progressed efficiently
- To understand when the council is obliged in law to offer interim/emergency accommodation and under supervision to minimise booking into temporary accommodation. To recommend booking in cases where a statutory duty is apparent
- To gather information to help decide whether the council has a statutory duty to protect an applicant’s personal property. To discuss with the temporary accommodation and floating support officer if this is to be done
- To assess prima facie non-priority cases under the Housing Act 1996 Part 7 as amended, to issue statutory decision letters in these cases and to offer advice and assistance to enable this group to seek their own housing

**Knowledge**
- To have a knowledge of relevant current legislation and case law, including the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, the Housing Acts of 1985, 1988, 1996 and 2004
- To have a knowledge of relevant current legislation and case law, including the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, the Housing Acts of 1985, 1988, 1996 and 2004

**Skills**
- Excellent communication skills, including under the Housing Act 1996, Part 7 to write and speak to landlords and to explain matters to customers
- Ability to negotiate with householders

**Experience/Training**
- Experience of interviewing the public in a housing advice, homelessness or related field

**Salary**: £26.00-£30.00 per hour

Schedule:

- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

- Merton, Greater London (required)

Work Location: In person