Accommodation Officer

About the team we are recruiting to
The Housing and Homelessness Service is a very busy environment and faces several challenges to meet the housing needs of citizens of Coventry. The team have grown significantly during the last 12 months and this reflects the fact that Housing & Homelessness are now a key council priority.

The team are responsible for the delivery of the following service functions:

- Provision of the statutory homeless service
- Provision of temporary accommodation
- Management of the housing register
- Co-ordination of support to citizens rough sleeping
- Commissioning of homeless services, and
- Responsibility for housing strategy

The Council has a strategic vision that is clearly set out in both the Housing & Homelessness and the Rough Sleeping Strategies which were both approved in 2019.

By becoming part of an expanding team who are focused on preventing households from becoming homeless as well as providing tailored support and interventions when someone does become homeless this is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

What is the job role?
**We are currently recruiting to one full time permanent post 37 hours per week.**

Let’s Rent Coventry’ is Coventry City Council’s rent guarantee scheme, launched in May 2020. It aims to match households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, with private landlords who have properties to let in the city. This provides homeless households with a safe, suitable home for at least 12 months and enables the Council to fulfil its duties under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996).

We are recruiting for an Accommodation Officer, you’ll join the team at an exciting time for the housing and homeless service, in the post you’ll be responsible for increasing the capacity of the private rented sector. By building links with landlords in the private rented sector you will secure accommodation and help prevent homelessness for ex-offenders.

You’ll be work alongside colleagues to increase the supply of PRS accommodation and match these to households in temporary accommodation to allow the service to discharge its homeless duties.

You’ll need the ability to be creative and solution focused negotiating and connecting with people with ex-offending history.

The role can also include the placement of households into temporary accommodation, the ongoing case management of homeless households in temporary accommodation in relation to tenancy management, rent collection and timely move-on into more permanent accommodation in order to discharge the Council’s rehousing duty.

**The Role**
- You will be working directly and negotiating with social housing providers, the private rented sector, other types of accommodation providers.
- To work closely with landlords and providers to secure properties to meet the housing needs of the households under the Housing and Homelessness duties, whether for temporary or permanent accommodation.
- Negotiate with Landlords regarding the condition of the property. If ready to let, to undertake the inspection in line with the required Coventry City Council standard. The prescribed inspection regime must be followed as a guide to this process. Training will be provided if required.
- To confirm landlords have provided all the required documentation ahead of entering into the tenancy agreement with the household. This will include the receipting of appropriate and in date gas, electrical and energy performance certificates.
- Discharging the housing duty as and when accommodation ends.
- Statutory placements of households into temporary accommodation, identify where occupiers require additional support, to move households out of or between temporary accommodation to ensure the best use of stock.
- You will support in the management of customers in these properties and be a contact for both customers and landlords.
- Assist with the collection of services charges, collection of rent and manage rent accounts ensuring that rent is paid in full and on time and tenants do not fall into arrears.
- You will be develop relationships with partners including social housing providers, the Voluntary and Community Sector, landlords, estate agents in order to identify suitable services, support and housing for customers.
- This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)._

Who are we looking for?
For the role you’ll need
- A positive attitude towards helping people to overcome Homelessness
- Strong negotiating skills and advocacy skills.
- Resilience and determination to achieve right outcomes for Homeless people/families
- Willingness to learn about the relevant legislation for Housing and Homelessness
- The ability to travel around the