Senior Allocations & Lettings Officer

A reputable London housing provider is seeking an experienced Senior Allocations & Lettings Officer to join its Housing and Lettings service on a temporary basis. This is a senior operational role responsible for overseeing the delivery of an effective, customer-focused social housing allocations and lettings service, while supporting and managing a team of officers.

Location: London
Working Pattern: Hybrid – 3 days office-based
Contract: Temporary
Pay Rate: £31.50 – £32.59 per hour

The successful candidate will have strong knowledge of social housing allocations, lettings, housing legislation and statutory guidance, together with proven experience of managing staff, monitoring performance and working with internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day delivery of social housing allocations and lettings, including housing register, transfers, decants and under-occupation cases.
• Manage, motivate and support a team of housing officers to deliver a high-quality, responsive and customer-focused service.
• Ensure allocations and lettings are delivered in accordance with Housing Act 1996 Part VI, the Council/Housing Provider Allocation Scheme and relevant statutory guidance.
• Work closely with voids, repairs, surveyors and contractors to improve void turnaround times and minimise rental income loss.
• Manage nominations and maintain effective relationships with Registered Providers and housing association partners, ensuring nomination agreements and allocation policies are followed.
• Monitor service performance against agreed KPIs, targets and service standards, producing accurate performance and financial information.
• Oversee the accurate maintenance of housing management systems and ensure records are complete, up to date and compliant with relevant requirements.
• Respond to and coordinate Member enquiries, customer complaints, escalated cases and complex housing enquiries within required timescales.
• Provide clear housing advice and guidance to residents regarding social housing, temporary accommodation, transfers and available housing options.
• Support emergency decants, transfers and rehousing arrangements, working closely with relevant internal teams and external partners.
• Prepare written reports, briefings and correspondence for senior managers, elected Members, solicitors and other stakeholders.
• Identify service improvements and develop initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the allocations and lettings service.
• Build strong working relationships with residents, colleagues, Registered Providers, contractors, health and welfare services and other partner agencies.
• Ensure services are delivered fairly and inclusively, with particular consideration given to vulnerable residents and customers with additional needs.
• Support the training, development and induction of team members and contribute to continuous service improvement.

Essential Experience & Knowledge:

• Proven experience working within social housing allocations and lettings.
• Strong knowledge of Housing Act 1996 Part VI and housing allocation legislation.
• Understanding of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and relevant homelessness statutory guidance.
• Experience managing or supervising housing/allocations officers.
• Experience of managing housing registers, nominations, transfers, decants and lettings.
• Strong understanding of voids management and void turnaround performance.
• Experience working with Registered Providers / Housing Associations.
• Proven experience monitoring KPIs, performance targets and service standards.
• Experience handling complex customer enquiries, complaints and Members' enquiries.
• Strong knowledge of housing management systems and accurate case recording.

Desirable

• Local authority or housing association experience.
• Experience using housing management systems such as Northgate, NEC, Civica, MRI or equivalent.
• Experience of working with Locata or other choice-based lettings systems.
• Knowledge of temporary accommodation and homelessness pathways.
• Experience contributing to housing policy or service improvement initiatives.
• Relevant housing qualification such as CIH or equivalent professional experience.

You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced housing environment, managing complex allocations and lettings issues, interpreting legislation and making sound decisions. You will also need to demonstrate strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across housing, repairs, voids, Registered Providers and other partner services.
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APPLY NOW, If you have strong Senior Allocations, Lettings or Housing Register experience and are immediately available for a hybrid London assignment, we would be keen to hear from you.