Senior Housing Advisor

Are you passionate about making a difference to our citizens and the district that they reside in? Then, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Senior Housing Advisor to join our Housing Advice Team To work as part of a team of Housing Advisors providing specialist, accurate and timely housing advice to tenants, licensees, and owner occupiers experiencing housing difficulty, those threatened with homelessness, or facing possession action. The postholder will ensure compliance with statutory duties under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and new obligations arising from the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, supporting early intervention, homelessness prevention, and lawful tenancy practice.

Key Responsibilities:

• To participate in a duty rota ensuring specialist advice is available during office hours to the Housing Needs Service Single Point of Access.
• To undertake detailed advice and casework on housing, debt and benefit issues
• To liaise and negotiate with a wide range of agencies and groups, such as landlords, government departments, other local authority departments, employers, and creditors, in undertaking casework for clients.
• To explore & support applications for financial assistance available from a range of sources including external agencies and charities and internal scheme such as the Spend to Save budget and the Repossession Fund.
• Prepare reports and other supporting information for submission to court
• To signpost service users to other statutory, non-statutory and voluntary agencies that could offer assistance.

What will be expected from me?

• To provide a comprehensive information advice, advocacy and consultancy service to individuals and agencies including households at risk of homelessness and other vulnerable services users.
• To investigate complaints under Protection from Eviction Act 1977, Renters Rights Act 2025 and other Landlord/Tenant legislation delegated to the Housing Needs Service and prepare detailed casefiles, including legal arguments and documents to support any legal/enforcement action
• To ensure landlord compliance with all relevant legislation regulating the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, including Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Participation in case conferences with the Team Leader, and representatives from Legal Services to prepare cases for appropriate action, including prosecution. Giving evidence in Magistrates and Crown Court as appropriate.
• To provide service users with a full appraisal of their housing situation providing realistic and assertive but sensitive advice taking into account individual needs and situations and to encourage them to consider all options available to them to prevent losing their existing accommodation or obtain new accommodation referring on to appropriate services.
• To Identify breaches of the Renters Rights Act 2025, and gather information required to issue a Civil Penalty under the relevant part of the Act.

Essential requirements:

• A qualification at level 4 of the qualifications and Credit Framework or significant work based experience
• A detailed knowledge of landlord and tenant law
• A detailed knowledge of the law relating to mortgages and secured loans
• A detailed knowledge of homelessness legislation and case law.
• A working knowledge of welfare benefits
• A thorough understanding of debt and debt recovery procedures

What can I expect?

A competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy up to 10 extra days of annual leave

Hybrid working (subject to role suitability)

Access to high-quality training programs to advance your career to the next level.

We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff. We recognise that resilient teams need good work life balance as well as supportive leadership.

Discounted and subsidised public transport (Arriva Bus Annual Travel Ticket, Northern Trains Limited (NTL), MetroCard).

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and a Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) scheme providing a tax efficient way to increase our pension.

Great range of benefits including an Employee Assistant Programme, discounted membership to our excellent leisure facilities with free 12 weeks exercise program, discounts for a range of retail, entertainment, health and leisure providers, a cycle to work scheme, and many more

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about the role, the recruitment process or working for Wakefield Council, feel free to contact.

Name: Ben Joyce

Tel: 07774614094

E-mail: bjoyce@wakefield.gov.uk

Join us and make a real impact in the community. Apply today to become a valued member of our team!

Safeguarding

Wakefield Council is wholly committed to ensuring children and vulnerable adults are fully supported and safe. We are dedicated to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable adults whilst promoting their welfare. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this responsibility.

DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service)

The successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure Application Form and to provide criminal conviction information.

Probation

In accordance with the Council Probation Procedure, this post is subject to a 6-month Probationary Period.

Fluency Duty

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), public facing roles will be subject to the Fluency Duty.

Diversity

Having a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve helps us to achieve the best outcomes for all. We encourage applications from everyone and actively seek to ensure that everyone feels included in the workplace so that we can make the most of our differences.

Why Wakefield

To find out more about the benefits of working at Wakefield Council, click here.