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Why Southwark?

Do you want a role where your work directly helps prevent homelessness, protect residents and create safer homes across one of London’s most diverse communities?

What if your next role gave you the opportunity to make a visible difference in people’s lives while helping shape better outcomes for residents?

If you are passionate about supporting communities, improving housing standards and making a meaningful impact, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

We are looking for a Private Rented Sector Visiting Officer to join our team on an 18-month fixed-term contract and play a key role in tackling some of the most complex housing challenges facing residents today.

With a strong prevention-led approach, Southwark places the private rented sector at the heart of its ambition to reduce homelessness, improve housing conditions and ensure residents have access to safe, secure and sustainable homes.

About the Role:

As the PSR Visiting Officer, you will be at the forefront of this work - working directly within communities to identify risks early, provide support and help deliver positive outcomes for residents.

This is an opportunity for someone who understands that housing is more than just a service - it is about dignity, security and improving quality of life. You will use your professional judgement to assess complex situations, provide practical solutions and support residents to sustain their homes wherever possible.

You will join a team that values collaboration, accountability and fairness, working together to deliver a proactive and innovative housing service that makes a positive difference.

Southwark is committed to creating services that are inclusive, resident-focused and responsive to the needs of our communities. As part of our team, you will contribute to meaningful change while continuing to develop your skills and experience within a supportive environment.

What You'll Be Doing

As our Visiting Officer within the Housing Needs and Support service, you will deliver frontline support across the private rented sector.

Your role will include:

• Carrying out visits to residents and properties across the borough to identify tenancy risks, housing concerns and opportunities for early intervention.
• Providing practical housing advice and support to tenants, helping residents sustain their homes and avoid homelessness wherever possible.
• Working directly with landlords and tenants to resolve housing issues, improve communication and encourage positive outcomes.
• Assessing housing conditions, identifying potential risks and recognising safeguarding concerns, making appropriate referrals to specialist services where required.
• Supporting the identification of breaches of housing legislation and working alongside enforcement and specialist teams to improve standards within the private rented sector.
• Managing a varied caseload, prioritising competing demands and ensuring residents receive a high-quality, timely and effective service.
• Building strong relationships with internal teams, external agencies and community partners to provide a coordinated approach to homelessness prevention and resident support.

This role offers the opportunity to combine housing knowledge, problem-solving skills and community engagement to deliver long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a motivated and knowledgeable individual with an understanding of the private rented sector and the legislation and policies that support it, including housing standards, tenancy rights and homelessness prevention.

You will have experience of working with residents and landlords to resolve housing challenges, providing advice and support to people who may be at risk of homelessness or experiencing difficulties sustaining their tenancy.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to assess complex housing situations and identify practical solutions.
• Experience managing a caseload while maintaining high standards of service delivery.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with residents, landlords and partner organisations.
• The ability to produce clear written correspondence, reports and case records using plain English.
• A collaborative approach, with the confidence to work across services and build effective partnerships.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with the ability to work sensitively with residents from a wide range of backgrounds.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who shares our commitment to prevention, fairness and improving outcomes for residents. Someone who wants to be part of a service that is ambitious for its communities and dedicated to making Southwark a safer and fairer place to live.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information:

To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact our dedicating Housing Needs inbox via email at HNASapplications@southwark.gov.uk

Additional Information

• Working hours: 36 hours per week
• Location: 160 Tooley St, London SE1 2QH
• Type of contract: 18-month fixed term contract

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Recruitment Timeline:

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Friday 14th August 2026

Shortlisting date/s: 17th - 19th August 2026

Interview date/s: Week commencing 7th September 2026

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans

Are currently in care, or have previously been in care

If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

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Attachments

• Private Rented Sector Visiting Officer