Housing and Income Officer
| Posting date: | 03 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £27,500 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Salary: £27,500 moving to £29,000 after 12 months |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 03 May 2024 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Company: | EHSL |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | HIO101 |
Summary
Title: Housing and Income Officer
Salary: £27,500 moving to £29,000 after 12 months
Working Arrangement: Monday to Thursday (Office) and Fridays (Working from home)
Hours: 9am to 5pm – 37.5 hours a week
Annual Leave: 25 Days per annum, plus your Birthday off and all Bank holidays.
EHSL recognises long service and commitment by giving an additional 2 days holiday a year when staff have been with the company for 3 years.
EHSL is an accredited Living Wage employer.
About EHSL
EHSL is a non-profit provider of supported housing to people with various support needs, including learning disabilities, mental health issues, autism, and other health and social care related needs. Services are located predominantly in London and surrounding counties, although the organisation also has services in the East and West Midlands, the East of England and Gloucestershire/Bristol. We currently have around 600 tenants in 125 buildings.
The Role:
Referral and Allocations
· Assisting with obtaining and reviewing referrals received from Care providers, prospective tenants, their family members, and other stakeholders.
· Assisting with Processing tenant referral forms, gathering documentation to assess Housing Benefit eligibility.
· Updating and maintaining tenancy records on our property management software to ensure that it is kept up to date.
· Updating and maintaining tenancy void information
· Ensure all information on our property management software is correct for the purposes of month end recording and void processing
· Coordinate with other members of the team to compile end of month figures for review by Department Management
· Outgoing tenants and initiate void process, ensuring notices are received and Housing Benefit departments notified once confirmation received that the tenant as left the property
· Completes internal transfers on our property management software once signed off by management
Sign ups and Housing Benefit Applications
· Drawing up sign up packs and tenant agreements
· Conducting Tenant Sign ups and completing Housing Benefits claims
· Submitting intention to claims
· Liaising with Local Authorities and others concerning new tenants
Housing Benefit Management
· Monitor new Housing benefit claims within the team and working with Housing Officers to ensure claims are submitted in the timely manner and taking action to ensure we are meeting our targets.
· Making weekly calls to Housing Benefit Departments for the latest information on Tenant Housing Benefit Claims and taking follow up actions in conjunction with the Housing Officer to get the claim into payment.
· Proactively work with Housing Officers to manage any outstanding actions until the claim it put into payment.
· Upload Benefit decision notices on our property management software and ensuring that relevant members of the team are made aware of the decision and any follow up actions required.
Rent increase Coordination
· Coordinating the formalities around Section 13 Notices (Rent Increases) yearly and ensuring that all parties have been notified within set timescales.
· Sending rent increase letters, liaising with local authorities and making rent adjustment changes on our property management software.
Rent arrears Coordination
· Send out weekly Rent Review sheets to the Housing Officers and collect them back when due, ensuring that they are completed in full.
· Monitor Housing Officers to ensure they putting rent notes on our property management software.
· Sending out weekly rent arrears and reminder letters to tenants that are in rent arrears and working with the Housing Officers when escalation is required.
General
· General administrative task that supports the needs of the housing and wider team as required.
· Monitoring, emails, phone calls and ensuring responses are provided in a timely manner.
· Project work as tasked
· Liaison with EHSL’s care operator partners regarding queries and issues relating to the accommodation provided by EHSL.
· Attend Sites as required.
· Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required to meet the changing needs of the organisation.
Salary: £27,500 moving to £29,000 after 12 months
Working Arrangement: Monday to Thursday (Office) and Fridays (Working from home)
Hours: 9am to 5pm – 37.5 hours a week
Annual Leave: 25 Days per annum, plus your Birthday off and all Bank holidays.
EHSL recognises long service and commitment by giving an additional 2 days holiday a year when staff have been with the company for 3 years.
EHSL is an accredited Living Wage employer.
About EHSL
EHSL is a non-profit provider of supported housing to people with various support needs, including learning disabilities, mental health issues, autism, and other health and social care related needs. Services are located predominantly in London and surrounding counties, although the organisation also has services in the East and West Midlands, the East of England and Gloucestershire/Bristol. We currently have around 600 tenants in 125 buildings.
The Role:
Referral and Allocations
· Assisting with obtaining and reviewing referrals received from Care providers, prospective tenants, their family members, and other stakeholders.
· Assisting with Processing tenant referral forms, gathering documentation to assess Housing Benefit eligibility.
· Updating and maintaining tenancy records on our property management software to ensure that it is kept up to date.
· Updating and maintaining tenancy void information
· Ensure all information on our property management software is correct for the purposes of month end recording and void processing
· Coordinate with other members of the team to compile end of month figures for review by Department Management
· Outgoing tenants and initiate void process, ensuring notices are received and Housing Benefit departments notified once confirmation received that the tenant as left the property
· Completes internal transfers on our property management software once signed off by management
Sign ups and Housing Benefit Applications
· Drawing up sign up packs and tenant agreements
· Conducting Tenant Sign ups and completing Housing Benefits claims
· Submitting intention to claims
· Liaising with Local Authorities and others concerning new tenants
Housing Benefit Management
· Monitor new Housing benefit claims within the team and working with Housing Officers to ensure claims are submitted in the timely manner and taking action to ensure we are meeting our targets.
· Making weekly calls to Housing Benefit Departments for the latest information on Tenant Housing Benefit Claims and taking follow up actions in conjunction with the Housing Officer to get the claim into payment.
· Proactively work with Housing Officers to manage any outstanding actions until the claim it put into payment.
· Upload Benefit decision notices on our property management software and ensuring that relevant members of the team are made aware of the decision and any follow up actions required.
Rent increase Coordination
· Coordinating the formalities around Section 13 Notices (Rent Increases) yearly and ensuring that all parties have been notified within set timescales.
· Sending rent increase letters, liaising with local authorities and making rent adjustment changes on our property management software.
Rent arrears Coordination
· Send out weekly Rent Review sheets to the Housing Officers and collect them back when due, ensuring that they are completed in full.
· Monitor Housing Officers to ensure they putting rent notes on our property management software.
· Sending out weekly rent arrears and reminder letters to tenants that are in rent arrears and working with the Housing Officers when escalation is required.
General
· General administrative task that supports the needs of the housing and wider team as required.
· Monitoring, emails, phone calls and ensuring responses are provided in a timely manner.
· Project work as tasked
· Liaison with EHSL’s care operator partners regarding queries and issues relating to the accommodation provided by EHSL.
· Attend Sites as required.
· Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required to meet the changing needs of the organisation.