Location: Oldham 37 hours per week
Reporting to: Disrepair Manager
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £41,375
Disrepair Surveyor
Improving lives in Oldham
First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has an exciting opportunity for a Disrepair Surveyor to join our team and play a key role in ensuring our homes are safe, well maintained and meet the standards our residents deserve.
This is a critical role in how we manage housing disrepair and housing conditions claims, helping to protect residents, reduce risk and support positive outcomes through early intervention, clear communication and effective resolution.
The impact you’ll make
You’ll be part of a team that takes pride in doing the right thing, putting resident safety first and continuously improving how we work.
By managing disrepair claims from start to finish, carrying out high quality surveys and working closely with residents, colleagues and external partners, you’ll help minimise legal and financial risk while improving the experience for people living in our homes.
Your work will directly support FCHO’s commitment to safe, decent homes and strong, trusting relationships with our residents.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll be responsible for managing housing disrepair and housing conditions claims through to resolution, including:
As a Disrepair Surveyor you will be responsible for supporting the planning, scheduling, and coordination of major repair and disrepair works from start to finish.
In this role you will:
* Undertake detailed inspections of properties with alleged disrepair and assess repair requirements.
* Receive, acknowledge and manage claims under the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions, including both litigated and non-litigated cases.
* Obtain and coordinate relevant evidence, including liaising with expert witnesses where required.
* Verify the authenticity and validity of claims through regular engagement with residents.
* Prepare clear, comprehensive survey reports and technical specifications.
* Manage disrepair claims through to resolution, working closely with legal teams, contractors and internal colleagues.
* Liaise effectively with residents, legal representatives, contractors and internal teams to progress claims and manage expectations.
* Provide expert advice on maintenance issues and contribute to planned and preventative works to reduce future disrepair.
* Monitor and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
* Keep all relevant parties fully informed of claim progress to minimise risk, complaints and reputational impact.
* Build and maintain strong working relationships with appointed experts, ensuring agreed service level agreements are met.
* Monitor, track and report on the status and performance of all disrepair claims.
* Coordinate preventative measures to ensure properties do not fall into disrepair and deliver value for money.
* Provide advice and guidance to teams on Pre-Action Protocol requirements, recommended measures and statutory timescales.
* Represent FCHO at court where required.
What we’re looking for
You’ll bring strong technical knowledge, a customer focused approach and experience of managing disrepair within a social housing environment.
You’ll have:
• An HND in Building Studies or equivalent
• Extensive experience working as a Disrepair Surveyor in social housing
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation, disrepair and pre-action protocols
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to manage multiple cases, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines
• Experience assessing repair requirements and writing specifications
Membership of a professional body such as RICS or CIOB, a CSCS card and experience within asset management or data analysis would be an advantage.
You’ll also hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work purposes.
Why Join FCHO?
First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is a housing association providing safe, affordable, and high-quality homes across Oldham and the surrounding areas. We own and manage over 11,500 properties and have the highest regulatory (G1/V1) Governance rating. Every day, we’re proud to make a real difference in our communities.
Our work is guided by our Big Plan, focused on providing homes we’re proud of, supporting people to thrive, and creating a great place to work. We care deeply about our customers, our colleagues, and our communities and we’re committed to delivering services we can be proud of while improving the lives of people across Oldham.
We need great people to work with us - it’s an exciting time to join as we work towards out big ambitions, supporting the growth and prosperity of our local region.
What’s In It for You?
We offer a fantastic range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance and career development:
* A salary of £41,375.00 per annum
* A 37-hour working week with hybrid working options
* 30 days’ annual leave and 8 bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time colleagues)
* Option to purchase additional annual leave
* Defined contribution pension scheme with up to 10% employer contribution and salary exchange option
* Death in service benefit
* Healthcare cash plan covering dental, optical, and physiotherapy treatments
* Private health insurance
* Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering 24-hour confidential support
* Doctorline – 24/7 worldwide GP access for you and your family
* Access to our colleague benefits platform, offering discounts on major retailers and wellbeing tools
* Discounted gym membership
* Professional subscriptions paid (where essential for the role)
* Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay
* Access to our on-site wellbeing room and on-site café
* Long Service awards
Interested?
If you meet the criteria for the role and have the passion to lead procurement Excellence at FCHO we’d love to hear from you. Please send your application before 16/01/2025
We are committed to building an organisation that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills & are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. As an equal opportunities’ employer, FCHO is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective colleagues and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us.
We care that you have a great experience with us at FCHO and if you need us to make any reasonable adjustments to make your experience smoother, please let us know and we’ll do all we can.