Housing Options Officer
Location: West London
Service Area: Housing Needs / Housing Options
Contract: 12 Months
Hours: Full-time
Salary: £30 Per hour
About the role
We are looking for a motivated and customer-focused Housing Options Officer to join our Housing Needs service.
This is an important frontline role supporting individuals and families who are homeless, threatened with homelessness, or experiencing housing difficulties. You will provide high-quality housing advice, assess customers’ circumstances, and work with them to identify practical and sustainable housing solutions.
You will manage your own caseload and carry out assessments in accordance with relevant housing and homelessness legislation, ensuring customers receive clear, accurate and timely advice.
Key responsibilities
As a Housing Options Officer, you will:
- Provide comprehensive housing advice and homelessness prevention support.
- Assess homelessness applications in line with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and associated legislation and guidance.
- Complete detailed housing needs assessments and develop personalised housing plans with customers.
- Make enquiries and determine what duties are owed to applicants under homelessness legislation.
- Produce clear, legally compliant decision letters.
- Work proactively to prevent and relieve homelessness wherever possible.
- Explore housing options including private rented accommodation, supported housing and other suitable solutions.
- Liaise and negotiate with landlords, letting agents, housing providers and partner organisations.
- Work closely with internal teams and external agencies to support customers with complex housing needs.
- Maintain accurate case records and ensure actions are completed within required timescales.
- Identify safeguarding concerns and follow appropriate procedures.
- Contribute to the effective delivery of the wider Housing Needs service.
About you
We are looking for someone who has a strong understanding of housing and homelessness and can confidently manage a varied and demanding caseload.
You will ideally have:
- Experience of working within housing options, homelessness, housing advice or a related service.
- Good working knowledge of homelessness and housing legislation.
- An understanding of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and statutory homelessness duties.
- Experience of interviewing customers, assessing their circumstances and identifying appropriate solutions.