Accommodation Officer

The London Borough of Harrow is seeking a proactive and customer-focused Accommodation Officer to join the Housing Needs service. This important role is responsible for the day-to-day management of a portfolio of temporary accommodation properties, including Private Sector Leased (PSL) accommodation, ensuring that homeless households are provided with safe, suitable and well-managed homes. As an Accommodation Officer, you will oversee all aspects of property and tenancy management, including void management, lettings, tenancy sustainment, repairs coordination and landlord liaison. You will also be responsible for managing contracts with temporary accommodation providers, ensuring that suppliers meet their contractual obligations and that accommodation remains compliant with statutory requirements and local standards. The role involves undertaking regular property inspections to ensure accommodation continues to be suitable for occupation and fully compliant with health and safety legislation. You will monitor tenancies, conduct visits to residents in temporary accommodation and ensure authorised occupation, vacation and repossession of properties in accordance with the Council's duties under homelessness legislation. Working closely with households to whom the Council has accepted a housing duty, you will provide practical support and guidance to help residents explore and secure alternative housing solutions. You will also deliver advice and signposting on a broad range of issues affecting residents' wellbeing and independence, including housing options, employment and training opportunities, welfare benefits, personal finances, tenancy management, mediation, life skills, safeguarding concerns and hoarding behaviours. Where appropriate, you will make referrals to specialist agencies and partner organisations to ensure residents receive the support they need. This role requires close collaboration with teams across Housing Needs and other Council services to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to supporting statutorily homeless households. The successful candidate will have excellent communication and organisational skills, a strong understanding of housing and homelessness legislation, and a commitment to delivering high-quality services that improve outcomes for vulnerable residents.

• Experience working in a front facing team interviewing and assessing clients' housing needs.
• Experience of dealing with complex casework face to face and in writing.
• Experience of delivering a customer focused service, dealing with customer queries by telephone and/ or face to face, achieving satisfactory outcomes.
• Ability to manage properties including dealing with anti-social behaviour and other tenancy/licence breaches.
• Experience of dealing with people in stressful situations.
• Ability to work within a team setting using own initiative with commitment, flexibility and positive approach to achieving results and overcoming obstacles.
• Ability to maintain accurate and concise records with attention to detail.
• Effective numeracy skills to include the ability to assess rent affordability.

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