Lettings Manager

Job Category : Housing

Location : County Hall, Somerset Council

Hours Per Week : 37.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 08:00

End Time : 16:30

Salary: £15.70

To lead the housing lettings service within the council. The role supports the delivery of timely relets of void council homes, reletting properties in line with the Homefinder Somerset Policy and the council’s Lettings Policy. The post holder will be responsible for the relet of around 400 council properties a year, ensuring compliant advertising, short listing, verification, offers, and reletting within agreed timescales to minimise rent loss.

To ensure the service lets properties in line with CORE requirements (and evidenced through CORE returns to DLUCH) as well as meeting the Regulator of Housing’s consumer standards on lettings and voids.

Manage a team of letting officers and provide technical advice and guidance. 

Responsible for Lettings performance including regular reporting on long-term voids and progressing them to resolution.  

Jointly responsible with the Voids manager for lettings and void performance and meeting the HRA Business Plan targets on Voids. 

Provide advice on lettings queries and support delivery of the lettings process.  

Responsible for co-ordinating the voids and letting process for the Council’s Housing Stock. 

Provide specialist advice to new tenants from first point of enquiry through to completion of their tenancy, ensuring agreed targets are met. 

Create and promote property criteria for potential tenants and verify shortlisted candidates to ensure the criteria and affordability is met. 

Create and apply Local Lettings Plans to address issues in a defined area or as part of a development project in line with Section 106 agreements e.g., local connections or to address serious anti-social behaviour.

Manage transfers between council properties (e.g. inability to continue in current home due to fire risks; or move to adapted property to forgo need to adapt existing property; or serious threats of harm to staying in current home). 

Authorise lettings of properties outside of the Homefinder Somerset scheme in exceptional circumstances. 

Liaise with the Sheltered Housing and Extra Care Specialist over letting of Extra Care Housing in line with agreed policies and referrals from Adults Social Care.

Advise on internal transfers and mutual exchanges.

Qualifications

Essential:  Housing Management qualification regulated by Ofqual equivalent to a Level 4 or 5 Certificate or Diploma in Housing, or a foundation degree from the Chartered Institute of Housing – As required in the Social Housing Regulations Bill.

Knowledge

Essential: Substantial in-depth knowledge and understanding of Lettings Management.

Experience 

Essential: Experience of holding a similar role at a senior level in a Lettings Service, ideally within social housing. 

Experience of leading, managing and motivating staff, within a customer focussed environment. Experience of implementing policies and procedures.  

Experience of monitoring, achieving, and exceeding individual targets.  

Experience of contributing to service improvements that takes account of the needs of diverse stakeholder groups.

Desirable: Detailed knowledge of Housing Act 1996 Part VI and VII as amended by the Localism Act 2011 and Housing Act 1988 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002, Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and the relevant codes of guidance.

Three years’ experience within the social housing or similar community focussed environment.   Experience of working with vulnerable customers and customers presenting challenging behaviour

Skills 

Essential: 

Positive, outcome focussed approach. 

Ability to develop effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels. 

Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

Ability to write clearly, accurately and appropriately to the needs of a diverse audience.

Desirable: Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and form relationships.