what is a housing officer?
As a housing officer, you take care of tenants on behalf of housing societies or local authorities. Housing societies usually have properties in the suburbs that don't have separate owners since they are built to shelter underprivileged and homeless citizens. Your tenants will vary from infants to older people facing various struggles.
As a people-facing role, the position requires sympathy and empathy towards people's struggles. Most times, you encounter people with mental trauma and victims of domestic abuse. Your job is to advise people on their finances and help them find affordable rental units to solve their housing needs. It is also crucial to encourage the tenants to join tenancy support groups in the community.
what does a housing officer do?
Apart from meeting tenants, as a housing officer, you also look after properties by completing maintenance and repairs. You are the first point of contact in case of clogged drains, plumbing leaks and electrical faults. You also carry out regular inspections to check for damages. For instance, you have to record the condition of furniture and walls in every building when the tenants are leaving. In case of damages, you evaluate the cause and ensure the tenant pays for it before leaving.
You also represent the interests of the housing societies and local authorities. Hence, you have to compile statistics and make presentations to the council. It is also critical to understand the latest legislation and house placement requirements.
Would working as a housing officer suit your people skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a housing officer role.
average salary of a housing officer
According to National Careers, a housing officer starting out receives a salary of £21,000 per year. When you enhance your skills and experience, your earnings can increase to £35,000 annually. As a housing officer, you work unsocial hours, and your compensation package includes overtime pay. You also receive other benefits, including health insurance, company vehicle or transport allowance. Apart from monetary compensation, some employers have benefits packages with paid holiday days and part-time remote work that contribute to your work/life balance.
what factors affect the salary of a housing officer?
As a housing officer, the type of employer and your experience determine where your earnings fall in the salary range. If you have worked in the field for a few years, your transferrable skills will increase your take-home pay. However, housing officers joining the field earn less as they learn the ropes of the profession. Academic qualifications can also influence your salary and affect your promotion. It is crucial to improve your educational qualifications with short courses and relevant training to keep your salary on an upward trajectory. The public sector often pays less compared to working for private or non-governmental organisations' housing societies. Some locations also have favourable salaries due to the high cost of living and demand for housing officers in the area. Working in major cities guarantees higher wages.
types of housing officers
As a housing officer, you can work for a housing association, local authority or charity organisation providing shelter to the homeless. Some universities and property companies also rely on housing officers to manage their houses. Types of housing officers include:
- housing options officer: you help the less fortunate avoid homelessness by exploring their housing options. You discuss their finances and explain the available low-budget accommodations.
- supported housing worker: your job is to assist tenants to live independently and lead happy lives. You will work in supported housing provided by councils or charities to physically challenged people or victims of abuse.
- resident involvement officer: you interact with tenants and organise community activities for tenants to improve their well being.
working as a housing officer
Your focus as a housing officer isn't just taking care of the properties. In social housing jobs, you also make a positive difference in people's lives and help them start the journey to financial freedom by giving them a decent environment and home.
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housing officer job description
Some of the day-to-day tasks, duties and responsibilities of a housing officer include:
- providing housing options to homeless people: as a housing officer, you work with various agencies like welfare rights groups and social service departments to find suitable accommodation for the homeless. You also ensure the accommodation is ideal for individuals with special needs like the disabled or elderly. When assigning housing, it is vital to follow the statutory requirements.
- analysing housing applications: your job is to go through applications for housing and ensure they are genuine. After the assessment, you shortlist tenants to host in the accommodations under your care. It is essential to be vigilant and detail-oriented during the assessments to avoid shortlisting fraudsters who can afford to pay average rent. Before approving an application, you should conduct credit checks, go through bank statements and contact references. You also allocate housing based on a tenant's needs and family size.
- inspecting properties: as a housing officer, you conduct routine inspections to ensure tenants don't damage the property. You have to do inspections monthly and check on the well-being of the tenants. When a tenant is leaving, you use the initial conditional report to check for changes. You also note down any changes to the house, from missing furniture to damaged walls. After every inspection, you should send a report with the maintenance work required to the local council or management of the housing association.
- maintenance and repair: your job is to ensure the properties are up-to-date with maintenance and repairs. You should contact local electricians and plumbers to fix electrical faults or plumbing issues on the property.
- handling rent and finances: housing officers ensure the tenants pay rent on time and check for outstanding payments. Most housing societies require rent payments weekly, fortnightly or monthly. You also help tenants plan their finances and use their money effectively.
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work environment
You will work in the central offices for a housing society, local authority or non-governmental organisation. Some roles involve working in the local neighbourhood housing office. Most times, your job is office-based since you review applications and assign accommodations to tenants. You also spend considerable time outdoors inspecting houses and interacting with tenants. Your work environment can be stressful when dealing with frustrated tenants and sensitive issues.
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who are your colleagues?
As a housing officer, you work for housing societies and local authorities. Your colleagues may include income officers, development project managers and planners. You may also work alongside social care support workers, tenancy support workers and other specialists, including community engagement officers, litigation lawyers and caretakers.
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work schedule
Housing officers usually work part-time or full-time positions depending on the employer or specific roles. The typical work hours of a full-time housing officer range from 37 to 39 hours per week, while part-time workers work between 8 and 30 hours weekly. Most of your duties are within the traditional 8 am to 6 pm office hours, but sometimes you have to attend appointments or events in the evenings. In emergencies, you have to work on weekends and public holidays.
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job outlook
You are likely to start your housing officer career as a tenancy support officer or housing administrator. With skills and experience, you can move to senior positions and managerial roles like the regional manager or head of service for a housing association. Other senior roles include chief executive or housing director. Some housing officers specialise in homelessness assessment, rent accounts or income officer, urban renewal roles and tenant support. The specialisations usually require additional training to understand the legislation.
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advantages of finding a housing officer job through randstad
Finding your housing officer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a housing officer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
To become a housing officer, you need an undergraduate or foundation degree in social policy, building survey and housing studies. Undergraduates with business, planning or economics degrees can join the role through graduate trainee schemes to acquire additional skills. You may also need to complete a Level 4 Certificate course for the housing profession provided by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). If you don't qualify for a university degree, join a college and pursue higher national diploma courses in estate management, urban studies, housing or public administration.
skills and competencies
As a housing officer, you need the following skills to succeed:
- active listening: you need to give the right impression to applicants and tenants. It is important to show them that you are attentive and understand what they are saying. Active listening creates a rapport with tenants and helps you solve problems faster.
- conflict management: when conflicts arise between tenants, you need to handle the issues and restore peace tactfully. Issues often arise in houses with shared common areas, and you have to calm the situations and deal with conflicts without bias.
- empathy: as a housing officer, you have to empathise with your tenants' problems. When you connect with your tenants emotionally, you can find practical solutions to their problems.
- assertiveness: you need to be assertive when confronting tenants and dealing with issues in the community. Assertiveness helps you put yourself across without making people uncomfortable.
FAQs
A housing officer takes care of tenants and properties on behalf of housing societies or local authorities. The job involves inspecting houses and reviewing tenant applications.
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what do housing support officers do?
As a housing support officer, you provide support to people with disability and special groups like seniors. You also organise community involvement activities to improve their well-being.
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what is a council housing officer?
A council housing officer represents the interest of the local authorities by ensuring the proper legislation is adhered to during house placement.
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what qualification do I need to become a housing officer?
You need a degree in housing or public administration to become a housing officer. A certificate or diploma course from the CIH can also improve your qualifications.
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how do I apply for a housing officer vacancy?
Applying for a housing officer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
