Job Title: Lettings Advisor (Permanent)
Hours: 37 Hours per week (to be worked flexibly in line with business needs)
Salary: £38,189 per annum (Plus Regular Car User Mileage Allowance)

Location: Based at Gadbrook Park, Northwich. / Working across various locations within Cheshire.

Flexibility to work from a variety of places including our office at Gadbrook Park, Northwich and home (dependent on the job role and the needs of our customer, our organisation and our teams)

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity working as part of a professional, engaged, and friendly organisation? Our values are Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Exceptional, we are constantly striving to demonstrate these values in our day to day working environment and culture.

The Opportunity

At Weaver Vale Housing Trust we are passionate about working together to improve the lives of our customers.  This role will give you an opportunity to work for an organisation and team with a clear commitment to play our part in ensuring a continued focus in our response to the cost-of-living crisis, and our aim to “build back fairer”, making a real difference to people’s lives.

The Trust is looking for an experienced, innovative, and effective Lettings Advisor to deliver a seamless, co-ordinated approach to the letting of general needs and affordable rented homes.

We are looking for a strong team player with a positive, enthusiastic attitude.

The post holder must be able to foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent customer service with a focus on the needs of the customer and promoting tenancy sustainability.

You must also be able to work flexibly and adapt to meet the needs of the business and have excellent written and verbal communication skills. You will also need to be experienced in managing varying workloads and pressures effectively.

Weaver Vale Housing Trust has an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to develop their career with a great company.  The post holder will enjoy an exciting and varied role and will make a real difference to our customers’ lives. We are looking for a driven, diligent, and friendly Lettings Advisor to join our busy and demanding lettings team.

What Will You Do?

• Deliver a customer focused Lettings Service, ensuring available homes are let quickly and in accordance with relevant legislation, regulation, policy, and procedure.
• To manage and respond to applications for mutual exchange, assignments, successions, and other tenancy changes in line with Trust Policies.
• Deliver sustainable lettings through effective advertising and eligibility assessments, ensuring timely updates to internal and external customers.
• Carry out non-technical inspections of Trust properties during the notice period to support the marketing of our homes and ensuring minimum turnaround times are met.
• Complete all tenancy related documents with customers as part of the sign-up process, including the submission of statistical online returns.
• Identify and negotiate appropriate incentives to secure the letting of all properties ensuring void rent loss is kept to a minimum.
• Where appropriate, identify and complete referrals to internal/external partner agencies, to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable customers and that they receive the right support to sustain their tenancy in the future.

Minimum Requirements For This Role*

• Three Grade GCSE’s 4-9 / A* – C (Math’s and English) or equivalent level of qualification
• Significant professional experience in a Social Housing Allocations Team.
• Experience of working with a wide range of customers and stakeholders.
• Experience of managing customer expectations using a Customer First approach.
• Ability to develop strong working relationships to achieve organisational objectives.
• Working knowledge of housing legislation, including allocations reasonable preference groups and right to rent requirements

Due to the nature of the role, a full current driving license and access to a car is essential.  The role will also require the successful candidate to undergo a DBS check.

In line with the Trust’s Disclosure & Barring Policy, please confirm WITHIN YOUR APPLICATION if you have any current convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants will be subject to a DBS check.

Additionally, due to the flexible working arrangements with this role, you will need access to a room where you can work from and a suitable internet connection.

*Please see Accountability profile for further information and requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement – 24-29 days (entitlement increases 1 day each year, over the first 5 years) holidays plus UK public/bank holidays (based on level of service) (part time pro rata)*
• Ability to buy up to 5 days additional annual leave* (pro rata for part-time) each year*
• 12% employer contribution to our Pension Scheme (minimum 2% employee contribution) with life assurance benefit*.
• Contribution to the cost of nursery or afterschool care to help with childcare costs*
• Commitment to support your ongoing learning and development, with the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills.
• Day off for your Birthday to be taken during your birth month (based on contractual hours)
• One day’s paid leave (per year) to support a charity or community group of your own choice*
• An annual Health and Wellbeing Allowance or the option to enrol in a Health Cash Plan*
• ‘Thank you’ gift for your continuous service starting at 5 years’ service, and every 5 years’ thereafter.
• 24/7, 365 day Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) including free counselling
• Compensation for professional memberships which are an expressed requirement
  for the role.
• Free annual flu vaccines and free Eye Care Vouchers every 2 years*
• Discounts on a gym membership and phone contract
• Cycle to work scheme*
• Free to use car park at our office on Gadbrook Park
• Involvement in regular health and wellbeing initiatives and charity fundraising activities
• Opportunities to give feedback and join various colleague forums, to help shape change at the Trust.

* Benefits offered providing you meet the eligibility criteria

HOW TO APPLY:

Closing date for applications:         Friday 19/07/2024 (12:00 noon)

(Please be aware that applications received after this time may not be considered)

In person Interview date(s):             Monday 29/07/2024

Please review the job Information pack (on our website: www.wvht.co.uk) for further information and submit your CV with a covering letter (max. 2 pages) demonstrating how you meet the Essential and Desirable criteria in relation to the accountability profile.

Those applicants that consider themselves to have a disability and meet the essential criteria within the accountability profile for the role will be guaranteed an interview.  Please confirm within your application if you consider yourself to have a disability and if so, what reasonable adjustments may be required for you to attend an interview or assessment.

Disclaimer:

• We may conduct social media checks from sources such as Google, Facebook and LinkedIn to assist us in our assessment of your suitability for the role.
• We reserve the right depending on application numbers to close or extend the closing dates for positions; we would therefore recommend an early application.
• Once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
• The recruiting manager will review your skills and experience to determine if there is a match with the position you have applied for. If there is, we will contact you by phone or email to schedule an interview / assessment. If not, you will not be contacted.
• Please note due to the high volume of applications we are unable to respond to all unsuccessful applicants. If you haven’t heard from us within 3 weeks of the vacancy closing date, unfortunately we will not be pursuing your application further.
• Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK evidence of essential qualifications, complete a health questionnaire and undertake a DBS check (if relevant to the role).
• We reserve the right to refuse applications if they do not have an accompanying cover letter.

We appreciate your interest in Weaver Vale Housing Trust and the time you have invested in applying to us.

The Trust invites applications from all members of the community, irrespective of Gender, Gender reassignment, Sexual orientation, Race, Religion or belief, Disability, Age, Pregnancy and maternity, Marriage and civil partnership.