Job Title: Home Ownership Officer (Collections)
Work Pattern: 36 hours
Type: Temp on going
Location: Waltham Forest

Purpose of the Job
I am representing a client based in Waltham Forest, who are looking for someone to provide a front-line service in a large and complex area of work specifically in relation to the collection of rent, service charges (including major works) and other homeowner debt.

You will be expected to maximise the collection of rent, service charges/major works and other sources of homeowner income to reduce the level of debt and maintain the viability of the Housing Revenue Account.

Main Responsibilities

• Maximise, service charges, major works and other sources of homeowner income ensuring the viability of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA)


• Make necessary financial adjustments (credits and debits) to homeowner's accounts in line with policies & procedures, and maintain relevant records, e.g., direct debits, credits/debits, write offs, refunds, transferring balances etc.


• Deal with complex financial disputes in relation to service charges/major works in conjunction with officer with Consultation and Billing


• Working with Finance Team to ensure that the tenant service charges are in line with the actual costs


• Producing one off invoices charge/s that are not recoverable as service charges but are under the terms of the lease


• Monitoring, identifying, and recovering service charge and major works charges.
  
  Offering debt advice and advising customers on all aspects of welfare benefits to help maximise entitlement


• Deal with enquiries from leaseholders, shared owners & freeholders and officers regarding service charges and ensure all management issues are dealt with in line with the lease and/or transfer documents and legislation


• Assist shared owners & leaseholders to sustain their leases, through information and advice on payments, lease, and ownership responsibility

Requirements

• Specialist knowledge of leases and key leasehold legislation, in particular Section 18 - 30 of


• the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended), and the income recovery processes and


• escalation procedures for recovering service charges


• Knowledge of Welfare Reform and practical knowledge of debt advice and welfare benefits


• Ability to understand the financial and emotional difficulties of the customers, whilst


• understanding the need to achieve maximum recovery for the Council


• A proven track record of achieving and exceeding targets and objectives, specifically within


• arrears management


• Experience of calculating accurate complex calculations, in particular relation to service


• charges, arrears payment arrangements and major works invoicing


• Relevant professional qualification

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV now for consideration.

If you require any additional information regarding the position, please call Joel at Service Care Solutions on 01772 208 966 or send an E-Mail to joel.hopwood@servicecare.org.uk