Main purpose of post
Provide a supply of private sector rented properties for housing a range of customers in housing need. The post holders will manage a hot house telephone based service to generate property leads and close deals at affordable renting levels. Officers will liaise with landlords and agents, negotiate incentives and rent levels and occasionally view properties.
Key Unit Accountabilities
To lead on securing through individual negotiations a supply of accommodation to use to meet housing need. The post holders will authorise payments and carry a significant financial responsibility to ensure supply by negotiating rents and offering payments from the homelessness prevention fund to secure properties for a range of customer groups including homelessness prevention cases, move on from supported housing, move-on from temporary accommodation.
To operate a telephone based property finding service by generating leads from a variety of sources including known landlords, web sites and publications and cold calling.
To visit properties as directed carry our inspections and condition checks.
To liaise with the council’s Empty Property Officer, Home Improvement Agency and property improvement service to maximize the take up of grants and opportunities for landlords.
To provide information packs to landlords on services available, assist Landlords in completing any property related administration and keep accurate records of all landlord contact details.
To ensure accurate property records are maintained and up to date ready for hand over to Move On Advisers and provide accurate statistics as required.
Generic Responsibilities
1. Be a champion for excellent customer service delivery and customer care and contribute to the development and delivery of an integrated service.
2. Be self serving with respect to administration, case record keeping and other related duties and utilise IT systems to update and record information required according to guidance and established procedures.
3. Participate in appraisals, one to ones, objective settings, personal development plans and working group meetings and take a full and active role in service development, including service reviews.
4.To work flexibly in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participate as required in multi-disciplinary cross-department and cross-organisational groups and task teams.
5. To take responsibility, relevant to the post, for ensuring that Council statutes and government legislation is upheld. This includes, amongst others; Management compliance Charter, Environmental Policy, Data Protection Act, Race Equality Action Plan, Quality Assurance Plan, Health and Safety, Sustainable Construction and Recycling.
6. To take responsibility, appropriate to the post for tackling racism and promoting good race, ethnic and community relations.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
It is essential that in your written supporting statement you give evidence or examples of your proven experience in each of the short-listing criteria marked Application (A)
You should expect that all areas listed below will be assessed as part of the interview and assessment process should you be shortlisted.
If you are applying under the two ticks scheme, you will need to give evidence or examples of your proven experience in the areas marked with “Two Ticks” on the person specification when you complete the application form.
Shortlisting
Criteria.
Key Knowledge
K1
Excellent knowledge of landlord and tenant law and how this applies to assured shorthold tenancies (assessed by interview)
Excellent knowledge of tenancy contract law (assessed by interview
Excellent knowledge of negotiation and mediation techniques and their practical application
Relevant experience
experience of providing a first-rate customer service achieving excellent outcomes applying negotiation and mediation tools to promote options and opportunities
experience of telephone based sales or procurement
experience of negotiation in a sales or procurement environment
experience of windows based applications, MS office including emails and internet based technologies
Core Behaviours
Focuses on people: Level 3
Systematically engages with citizens on a regular basis
Engages and listens to citizens and stakeholders on a regular basis in order to understand their needs and concerns
Empowers and supports citizens and stakeholders to make informed choices and co-design future services
Being proactive and owning personal objectives
Spots opportunities or problems in own area and takes action to capitalise on opportunities or resolve problems
Proactively gets involved in projects that are outside of immediate work area
Builds partnerships and relationships internally and externally
Takes time to know others and their perspective
Manages relationships and partnerships for the long term, sharing information, building trust, constructively and openly tackling conflict and finding win/win solutions
Sets priorities and makes choices based on the wider needs of the community and not just own service area
Establishing positive relationships using simple, clear and open language
Targets the message to the audience, ensuring information is easily accessible
Actively listens to customer needs and responding calmly and professionally
Adapts communication style to different audiences or contexts.