Housing officer

As a housing officer, you could:

• assess the needs of people applying for housing
•  allocate property to tenants and explain tenancy rules
•  inspect properties and organise maintenance and repairs
•  support tenants with rent payments and arrears
•  refer people for advice about benefits and welfare
•  prepare reports based on housing data and feedback
•  work with tenants’ groups
•  deal with anti-social behaviour and breaches of tenancy agreements
•  work with other agencies like social services

• customer service skills
• administration skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• an organisation’s trainee scheme

With experience and training you could specialise in an area of housing like homelessness, sheltered accommodation or anti-social behaviour. You might also become a senior housing officer or manager.

You could also move into policy development, working on strategies to improve the supply and access to social housing.