The Angelou Centre
Housing Manager
£34,944 to £43,134
For over 30 years, the Angelou Centre has stood with Black and racialised women and children. We are a Black-led organisation based in Newcastle, specialising in support for those at risk of or affected by domestic abuse and other forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
We provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive services that help women, children and young people recover from violence, abuse and discrimination - rebuilding safety, confidence and independence.
About the role
The Housing Manager will be the organisational lead for housing, property and building safety across all Angelou Centre safe accommodation and related housing provision (refuge, move-on accommodation, NRPF units).
You will:
* Ensure that all properties are safe, compliant, well-maintained and welcoming, meeting statutory requirements, landlord obligations and sector best practice.
* Oversee tenancy/licence management, Housing Benefit/service charge processes, voids and allocations from a housing perspective.
* Manage relationships with landlords, managing agents, contractors and key local authority teams.
* Line manage refuge staff and support the Executive Director with strategic planning for safe accommodation growth and sustainability.
This is a senior operational role for an experienced housing professional who is also deeply committed to anti-racist, feminist and trauma-informed practice.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Housing, Quality & Compliance
* Act as organisational lead for housing, property and building safety, providing expert advice to the Executive Director, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Board where required.
* Develop, implement and review a Housing & Property Compliance Plan
* Ensure the organisation complies with all relevant housing, landlord and property legislation, including supported housing and refuge-specific requirements.
* Contribute to strategic planning and business development for safe accommodation (new properties, additional bedspaces, specialist units, capital investment), including producing costings, options appraisals and housing risk registers.
* Monitor relevant changes in legislation, regulation and sector best practice and update policies/procedures accordingly.
2. Property Management, Voids & Building Safety
* Ensure that all Angelou Centre properties are safe, secure and welcoming for a diverse group of Black and racially minoritised, migrant and refugee women and children.
* Maintain an up-to-date property register and compliance database for all sites (certificates, licences, reports, FRAs, service contracts, warranties, insurance).
* Lead on Fire Safety and Building Safety across all properties
* Coordinate all repairs and maintenance
* Oversee void management and property turnaround
* Conduct regular property inspections and environmental checks (cleanliness, hazards, wear and tear, security, accessibility, child safety).
* Ensure processes are in place for accident and incident reporting, including RIDDOR where applicable, and ensure learning is fed back into practice.
3. Tenancy/Licence, Income & Allocations
* Oversee tenancy and licence agreements, ensuring documentation is clear, up-to-date and compliant with relevant housing law and supported housing norms.
* Take overall responsibility for ensuring that all residents fully understand their licence/tenancy agreements and the rules and conditions of staying in the refuge and dispersed properties, including any consequences of breaches.
* Work with the Housing Coordinator / Haven Finance Officer to:
* Ensure timely, accurate Housing Benefit (HB) and other welfare-related housing income claims.
* Monitor rent, service charge and arrears across all properties, taking early, supportive action where arrears arise.
* Ensure that women understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to accommodation, including any conditions linked to HB and service charges.
* Support the wider team with allocations and move-ins/outs from a housing perspective.
* Manage housing-related complaints (e.g. repairs, environment, contractors), ensuring prompt response, clear communication and learning into service improvement.
* Support the Executive Director and Finance team in budgeting and forecasting for housing costs and income, and in preparing reports for funders.
4. Leadership, Line Management & Staff Development
* Line manage designated staff and provide regular supervision, appraisal and professional development for team members
* Engage all team members in regular service reviews and reflective practice to promote best practice and continuous learning, particularly around the housing environment and safety.
* Manage and participate in the out-of-hours on-call support rota, responding to emergencies outside office hours on a rota basis, and ensuring clear protocols and debrief processes are in place.
* Promote a culture of kindness, openness, accountability and continuous improvement, modelling trauma-informed and anti-racist leadership.
5. Risk assessment & Partnership Working
* Ensure housing-related risk assessments (individual, property and environmental) are in place, regularly reviewed and understood by staff.
* Ensure any safeguarding concerns identified through housing/property work are raised promptly with the safeguarding Lead and in line with Angelou Centre policies.
* Facilitate/Assist with residents’ meetings/house meetings focusing on the living environment, safety, house rules and shared spaces, ensuring women’s and children’s voices inform improvements.
* Develop and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders (local authorities, landlords, service providers, etc.)
* Represent The Angelou Centre at multi-agency meetings, housing forums and commissioning discussions, advocating for the needs of Black and racially minoritised women and children in refuge/supported housing.
6. Data, Reporting, GDPR & Governance
* Maintain accurate records and documentation relating to properties, compliance, HB, licences/tenancies, inspections, incidents and health & safety.
* Ensure all housing/property data is handled in line with GDPR and data protection requirements.
* Provide regular reports and dashboards for the Executive Director, SLT, Board and funders.
* Support internal and external audits, inspections and reviews, ensuring the housing aspects of the service are consistently inspection-ready.
Experience & Knowledge
* Significant experience in housing management, property compliance or social housing, ideally in a refuge, supported housing or VAWG setting.
* Strong understanding of UK housing law, tenancy/licence agreements, rent and service charge management, including HB in supported housing.
* Demonstrable experience of health & safety and building compliance, including FRAs, gas/electrical inspections, cyclical works and accident reporting.
* Experience of working with HMOs or other licensable properties and liaising with local authority housing/Environmental Health teams.
* Experience of working with landlords, housing associations and local authorities, including negotiating and managing leases/agreements.
* Experience of line management and team leadership, including supervision, performance management and supporting staff wellbeing.
Skills & Abilities
* Excellent organisational and project management skills, able to manage multiple properties, deadlines and priorities.
* Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, including in crisis situations.
* Ability to interpret and apply legislation, regulation and technical guidance in a practical, service-friendly way.
* Good numeracy and financial skills, with experience of budgeting, monitoring costs, and analysing HB/income data.
* Excellent verbal and written communication, including report writing and the ability to explain complex housing issues in accessible language.
* Able to build and maintain trusting professional relationships with women, colleagues, landlords, contractors and external partners.
* Confident using IT and case/property management systems for monitoring, reporting and compliance evidence.
Qualifications
* Relevant qualification in Housing, Property Management, Health & Safety or related field (or equivalent experience).
* One or more of: CIH qualification, NEBOSH General Certificate, IOSH Managing Safely, NVQ Level 3/4 in Health & Safety or equivalent experience.
Desirable
* Understanding of domestic abuse, VAWG and safeguarding, including how these intersect with housing, tenancy sustainment and safety.
* Experience of working with women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and an understanding of the housing and immigration barriers they face.
* Experience of developing or delivering training on housing rights, property safety or related topics.
* Experience of business development and fundraising relating to housing/safe accommodation (e.g. capital bids, revenue funding for bedspaces).
* Valid UK driving licence and access to a car.
This post is:
* subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure
* subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order)
* 1975. It will be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the
* Disclosure and barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.
* Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK
Open to women* only (*exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1