Housing Officer (2)

Choosing to work at Stef & Philips is about more than just having a job. All members of our team share the same goal: to help improve the lives of vulnerable people around the UK, by delivering safe, suitable homes and vital services for the homeless, backed by investors who care. This people-centred ethos is reflected in our company culture; we prioritise wellbeing, inclusion and opportunity for all.

Our journey so far

Stef & Philips began life in 2006 as a traditional family-run lettings agent, servicing private tenants and landlords in North London. But the UK’s urgent need for good quality social housing had a profound impact on our Founder and CEO, Chris Philippou. In 2012 he acted on that need, and we now operate UK-wide with over 3800 accommodation units, 5500 tenants and counting.

By bringing together private investors, local authorities, charities and housing associations in a spirit of trust and a shared commitment to improving tenants’ lives, we’ve created a versatile, end-to-end model that delivers fit-for-purpose accommodation and services – a setting where people can begin to thrive again.

Our full service approach is unique. All work is carried out by dedicated in-house teams to ensure reliable, high-quality service.

The process begins with private or institutional investors looking for a positive social impact. Once we’ve helped them to source and acquire the right property, our construction arm remodels and refurbishes it to our exacting quality standards. We also sign a lease with the investor to handle lettings, management and maintenance, while protecting their capital and yields.

We believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home and right now though the UK’s housing crisis is getting worse, with homelessness forecast to double over the next 25 years. We’re committed to changing that trend, combining profit with purpose.

Our roots as a family business remain at the core of who we are, as do the values that go with it, and our commitment to helping vulnerable people get the housing help they need.

Where you come in

The Role

A Housing Officer is a key role within Stef & Philips, supporting our tenants from their initial check-in to the point that they move on from our accommodation. You'll also oversee the condition of our properties, working with colleagues to deal with maintenance issues. Our housing officers impact the lives of our tenants and provide expert advice and guidance on accessing broader support from local authorities and agencies such as social services and benefit providers.

This position covers the hours from midday until 8.30pm.

Whilst the potential duties are as for our other Housing Officers (as below), in this role, you'll focus mostly on

- Conducting scheduled quarterly inspections of our PRS and PSL properties across London

- Late check-ins for temporary accommodation service users

You may need to travel to any of our London properties, and will be provided with a company vehicle which is also available for your own use outside of working hours.

It's a very rewarding role in an organisation where your efforts will be recognised and valued.

Housing officer role summary:

• Conduct regular tenant visits, updating company systems including Salesforce, in line with S&P procedures, including:

  • Ad-hoc and scheduled periodic inspection visits

  • Maintenance visits, reporting issues in line with S&P procedures to enable prompt resolution, and checking and recording details of repair work carried out by third party contractors

  • Dealing with complaints, and following up to ensure that they have been addressed appropriately

  • Health and Safety inspections

• Support departments with check in and check out inspections

• Reporting any anti-social behaviour, investigating the cause, and liaising with third party agents if required

• Liaising with the Utility department and obtaining meter reads

• Assessing service users suitability for properties

• Carrying out customer satisfaction surveys

• Carrying out a key audit of services

• Liaising with partners in supporting tenants throughout their tenancy (occupational therapist/ hospitals/ case workers/ social worker/ local police/ neighbourhood watch/ local authorities etc)

• Maintain a safe working environment

• Report all incidents or potential hazards

• When lone working, adhere to the Service Level Guidelines at all times, ensuring any concerns are raised as appropriate

• Ensure relevant policies and standards are followed and maintained at all times

• Maintain good working knowledge of company policies, and ensure they are followed at all times

• Participate in development reviews

• Read and seek to understand all relevant communication e.g. staff handbook, written communication

• On occasion, you will be required to complete ad hoc tasks as authorised by your line manager or leadership team.

Is this job for you?

You'll have: 

• Ability to regularly work the hours of midday to 8.30pm

• An ability to demonstrate the core values of Stef & Philips

• Knowledge and practice in housing and tenancy management support

• Knowledge of the housing benefits system and welfare reform in a supported housing environment

• Experience working with vulnerable people with support, care needs and homelessness

• Computer literate

• Knowledge of Microsoft office packages, particularly Word and Excel

• Good interpersonal skills

• Good communication skills (written and verbal)

• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, time and travel

• Excellent organisational skills

• Accurate recording skills

• Good problem solving skills

• Experience in managing maintenance issues and scheduling

• Flexible, approachable, positive and enthusiastic

• Driving licence

Desirable:

• Chartered Institute of Housing National Practitioner level 3 or willingness to attain

• Experience working within the temporary accommodation sector

Benefits

What's in it for you 

• 23 days leave, plus bank holidays

• Additional holiday days for long service – up to 28 days

• Company vehicle and fuel card to cover all business travel from your home

• Celebration of tenure

  • 3 years £500

  • 5 years £1000

  • 10 years £5000

• Private health insurance with Vitality

• Birthday off

• One well-being day off per year

• Maternity/Paternity Pay

• Pension scheme increase – after 2 years

• Mental health & wellbeing training through the charity Mind

• Professional Emergency First Aid at work training

• £500 referral scheme for staff who refer a new employee, paid upon passing probation

• Company payday lunch

• Daily Fresh fruit

Diversity & Inclusion

S&P is built on acceptance, respect, and inclusion, where everyone feels that they belong and can make a meaningful contribution. We encourage applicants regardless of religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family, or parental status. If you need any assistance or accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know.

We’d be delighted if you tick off all our boxes but we also believe it’s just as important we tick all of yours. If you think you have most of what we’re looking for but not every single thing, go ahead and hit Apply We’d still love to hear from you!