POST TITLE: Accommodation Officer SECTION: Housing Portfolio Team SALARY: Grade 9 £35,179 - £38,162 pa plus essential car user allowance Location: Maidstone, Kent Contract: Full-time/Fixed-term About the Role: Are you an enthusiastic, highly motivated team player interested in being part of our Housing Portfolio team? If so, Maidstone Borough Council invite you to apply for this important role. We are looking to recruit an Accommodation Officer at Maidstone Borough Council to provide excellent housing services to the council’s residents across all tenures of housing, including temporary accommodation, social and affordable homes. You will be the point of contact for residents, including tenancy management, income management, repairs reporting and void turnaround, tenancy enforcement, lettings management, and any complaints handling. With the support of specialist teams internally, this will provide you with the ability to be responsible for the solutions for our customers and own your patch. There are two roles available: both full-time positions (37 hours), on a fixed-term basis for 12 months, with the potential to extend. About Us: Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high-quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths, assets, knowledge and expertise, and our track record of innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans. We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well. Our Offer: A range of benefits including: - Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities - Employee Assistance Programme, which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors - Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) - Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS) - Generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy additional leave - Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work - Lease car salary sacrifice scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax - A wide range of flexible working opportunities - Annual flu vaccine - Cycle to work scheme - Staff benefits, including discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping - Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals - A professional fee payment, if required for the role About You: The successful applicant will have previous experience of working within the housing sector with sound knowledge of housing regulation and legislation. Ideally, a Chartered Institute of Housing recognised qualification and/or extensive experience of working in Housing Management. An understanding of legal proceedings in relation to housing including tenancy management. Highly skilled computer system user, including housing management systems, Microsoft Office, Word and Excel. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. You will also require a clean UK driving licence and the ability to attend properties across the borough. Selection Process: Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those who are successful in securing an interview can expect a job-specific interview assessment, followed by an interview. Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The Council considers that the successful applicant will have access to young people and/or vulnerable adults, and it is a requirement under The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 that you hold an enhanced disclosure and barring scheme check. Upon successful appointment, you will be required to provide evidence of an enhanced DBS check if you subscribe to the DBS Update Service or complete the process to obtain a DBS check. If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Julie Shuter, Housing Portfolio Manager, 01622 602185. To apply for the position, please select the button shown and complete the online application form or call 01622 602555.