Public sector careers

A Career as Housing Officers

Housing Officers or housing advisers are people who offer housing advice to people who may be having housing difficulties. These positions are available throughout the UK. However, within the bigger cities naturally more positions are available.

Your Careers As A Housing Adviser
As a housing advisers you will be offering impartial advice to people who are having difficulties with their housing situation. This is a highly responsible job that can offer a great sense of satisfaction.

The people who you would be dealing with may include homeless people who have mortgage or rent arrears or even disputes with landlords or neighbours. You will also be offering advice to people who need significant repairs to their home as well as finding and developing special housing needs for people who have disability problems or a large family.

Who Do Housing Officers Work For?
Housing advisers are employed in several settings. They may work in general advice centres, specialist housing advice centres, or in hostels for groups with special housing needs. A few work as part of local authority housing departments.

The setting in which an adviser works and that organisation's client group affect the scope of the work. Typical activities are likely to include:

• interpreting and explaining written information, e.g. mortgage documents or letters from landlords to clients;
• liaising with other organisations, e.g. local authority housing departments, housing associations, social workers;
• mediating in disputes between the client and landlord or bank;
• referring clients to other support, e.g. solicitors, social workers, the benefits agency, or a women's refuge;
• acting as advocate for the client with landlords or local authority housing departments;
• Keeping up to date with current housing legislation, and policy.

What personal qualities would you say I would need to become a housing officer?
You will need to have good administration skills. Have a calm manner under pressure and have good all round people skills from working in a team as well as communicating to the people with housing needs. You will also have to be extremely organized.

For more information on a career as a housing officer contact your local authority or find them at: www.housingnet.co.uk

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