Rent Recovery Administrator Location: Basildon Salary: £17.65 per hour Job type: 3 month contract with possibility to extend Hours: Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week Working pattern: Hybrid, 3 days office based and 2 days working from home About the Role Basildon Council is looking for a Rent Recovery Officer to support the collection of Council Tax, Business Rates, Council Rents, and Corporate Debt, along with the assessment of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. This is a busy and varied position where you will work with residents and businesses to manage accounts, resolve queries, and agree payment arrangements. You will play an important role in helping the council maintain income while supporting customers in a fair and professional way. This opportunity would suit someone with experience in revenue collection, credit control, debt recovery, housing income, or accounts management. It can also be a good move for candidates from customer service, finance, housing, or public sector administration roles where managing payments and handling account queries is part of the role. What You’ll Do • Manage and recover outstanding debts across Council Tax, Business Rates, Council Rents, and Corporate Debt • Assess Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims in line with current legislation and council policy • Contact residents and businesses to discuss arrears and agree suitable repayment plans • Maintain accurate records of account activity, payments, and communication • Provide clear guidance and support to customers regarding their accounts and responsibilities • Work closely with internal departments such as Housing, Finance, and Customer Services • Follow recovery procedures while maintaining a professional and customer focused approach What We’re Looking For • Previous experience in revenue collection, credit control, debt recovery, or income management • Confidence handling customer conversations about payments and outstanding balances • Good attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple cases at once • Strong communication and organisational skills • Comfortable using computer systems and maintaining accurate records • Ability to work independently and as part of a team Nice to Have • Experience working within a council, housing association, or public sector environment • Knowledge of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support processes • Background in accounts receivable, collections, customer accounts, or financial administration Who Might Suit This Role This role could suit candidates who have worked as a Credit Controller, Income Officer, Debt Recovery Officer, Revenues Officer, Accounts Assistant, Finance Administrator, Housing Officer, Collections Advisor, or Customer Service Advisor. It may also appeal to people from sectors such as banking, utilities, telecoms, property management, insurance, or social housing, where managing payments, resolving account issues, and supporting customers are part of the day to day work.