Accommodation Officer
| Posting date: | 11 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,319 to £36,738 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 20 February 2026 |
| Location: | Colchester, Essex |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 1 day per week |
| Company: | Colchester City Council |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | COLREQ01591 |
Summary
Job description
6 months fixed term, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday
This is a career grade role with appointments relevant to experience and qualifications.
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic, confident, self-motivated individual with excellent communication skills.
Your main roles will include:
• To take the lead in procuring private sector accommodation for both the Private
Sector Leasing and HomeSteps Schemes
• Carrying out HHSRS inspections when required to ensure properties are safe
to let and there are no significant Hazards
• If hazards are discovered liaise with the landlords and the Councils Private
Sector Housing team , if appropriate to that defects can be addressed
• Arranging, tenancies and or licences by way of negotiation with private sector
landlords and agents.
• Negotiating with private sector landlords with a view to sourcing private rented
accommodation for our Home Step scheme.
• Assessment and allocation of customers to suitable properties.
• Arranging timely move on from Bed & Breakfast and temporary
accommodation.
• Delivering and arranging support for those living in temporary accommodation
provided by Colchester Borough Homes and partner organisations.
• Managing a reactive and changing workload.
• Assessing and identifying individual's needs, to recommend and sign-post
appropriate support for customers.
• Working with partner agencies and colleagues in a holistic way to ensure positive
outcomes.
Your innovative approach will be matched by a combination of previous customer engagement and support experience and delivery of housing related support, good negotiation skills. You will help to monitor rent accounts, maintain licences /tenancies and provide general advice tenants/licensees in accommodation. To offer a flexible and responsive service that is sensitive to our customer's needs. Liaising with Private Sector Landlords and letting agents with a view to sourcing private rented accommodation for our Private Sector scheme and building relationships with landlords and agents and other partner agencies.
Please note it is Colchester Borough Homes policy to appoint at the bottom of the scale.
Benefits of working for CBH
In return, we are offering a competitive salary, including excellent benefits, which includes:
• Local Government Pension Scheme with a 20.8 % employer contribution
• Excellent training, development, and progression opportunities
• Annual leave entitlement of 23 days annual leave (increasing to 26 days after 5
years’ service), plus bank and public holidays and two extra company holidays
during the Christmas period.
• The opportunity to buy up to another 5 days holiday, subject to conditions
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme
• Provision of a smartphone and laptop
• Discounted gym member - corporate membership rate at Leisure World and
the Northern Gateway.
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
• Free Flu Jab
• Agile Working at Colchester Borough Homes means having some flexibility about
when, where, and how we work to best meet the needs of our role and service
area.
Other employee benefits include payment of a professional subscription, Free yearly eye tests plus a contribution towards glasses for VDU use.
You can find out more about Colchester Borough Homes by visiting: www.cbhomes.org.uk .
If you would like to discuss this post further, please contact Mark Jameson on 01206 506493.
Interview date to be confirmed.
Equality & Diversity Commitment
Colchester Borough Homes are an equal opportunities employer. As part of our continued commitment to Equality and Diversity, and our workforce accurately reflecting the community we represent, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and applicants who have status as an individual with a physical or mental disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer and a Mindful Employer. We also hold accreditations for Working Well, Investors in People Gold status and the Armed Forces Covenant.
How to apply:
Step 1 – Read the advert, Job Accountability Statement and Person Specification
Step 2 – Click ‘Apply online’ below and complete the application form in full, ensuring that you indicate how you meet the criteria contained within the Person Specification
Step 3 – Press ‘submit’
6 months fixed term, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday
This is a career grade role with appointments relevant to experience and qualifications.
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic, confident, self-motivated individual with excellent communication skills.
Your main roles will include:
• To take the lead in procuring private sector accommodation for both the Private
Sector Leasing and HomeSteps Schemes
• Carrying out HHSRS inspections when required to ensure properties are safe
to let and there are no significant Hazards
• If hazards are discovered liaise with the landlords and the Councils Private
Sector Housing team , if appropriate to that defects can be addressed
• Arranging, tenancies and or licences by way of negotiation with private sector
landlords and agents.
• Negotiating with private sector landlords with a view to sourcing private rented
accommodation for our Home Step scheme.
• Assessment and allocation of customers to suitable properties.
• Arranging timely move on from Bed & Breakfast and temporary
accommodation.
• Delivering and arranging support for those living in temporary accommodation
provided by Colchester Borough Homes and partner organisations.
• Managing a reactive and changing workload.
• Assessing and identifying individual's needs, to recommend and sign-post
appropriate support for customers.
• Working with partner agencies and colleagues in a holistic way to ensure positive
outcomes.
Your innovative approach will be matched by a combination of previous customer engagement and support experience and delivery of housing related support, good negotiation skills. You will help to monitor rent accounts, maintain licences /tenancies and provide general advice tenants/licensees in accommodation. To offer a flexible and responsive service that is sensitive to our customer's needs. Liaising with Private Sector Landlords and letting agents with a view to sourcing private rented accommodation for our Private Sector scheme and building relationships with landlords and agents and other partner agencies.
Please note it is Colchester Borough Homes policy to appoint at the bottom of the scale.
Benefits of working for CBH
In return, we are offering a competitive salary, including excellent benefits, which includes:
• Local Government Pension Scheme with a 20.8 % employer contribution
• Excellent training, development, and progression opportunities
• Annual leave entitlement of 23 days annual leave (increasing to 26 days after 5
years’ service), plus bank and public holidays and two extra company holidays
during the Christmas period.
• The opportunity to buy up to another 5 days holiday, subject to conditions
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme
• Provision of a smartphone and laptop
• Discounted gym member - corporate membership rate at Leisure World and
the Northern Gateway.
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
• Free Flu Jab
• Agile Working at Colchester Borough Homes means having some flexibility about
when, where, and how we work to best meet the needs of our role and service
area.
Other employee benefits include payment of a professional subscription, Free yearly eye tests plus a contribution towards glasses for VDU use.
You can find out more about Colchester Borough Homes by visiting: www.cbhomes.org.uk .
If you would like to discuss this post further, please contact Mark Jameson on 01206 506493.
Interview date to be confirmed.
Equality & Diversity Commitment
Colchester Borough Homes are an equal opportunities employer. As part of our continued commitment to Equality and Diversity, and our workforce accurately reflecting the community we represent, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and applicants who have status as an individual with a physical or mental disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer and a Mindful Employer. We also hold accreditations for Working Well, Investors in People Gold status and the Armed Forces Covenant.
How to apply:
Step 1 – Read the advert, Job Accountability Statement and Person Specification
Step 2 – Click ‘Apply online’ below and complete the application form in full, ensuring that you indicate how you meet the criteria contained within the Person Specification
Step 3 – Press ‘submit’
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.