Housing Options Officer

Marks Consulting Partners are currently looking for a Housing Options Officer to work with one of our Local Authority clients in Hertfordshire. What the Job Will Be Doing * Managing a caseload of homelessness and housing options cases, providing tailored advice and support to residents * Assessing homelessness applications in line with the Housing Act 1996 Part VII and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 * Completing prevention, relief and main duty assessments, ensuring all statutory duties are met * Producing Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs) and working proactively to prevent homelessness * Negotiating with landlords, agents and support providers to secure positive housing outcomes * Providing advice on a wide range of housing options, including private rented accommodation, social housing and supported housing * Making legally robust homelessness decisions and issuing Section 184 decision letters * Working closely with internal departments and external agencies to deliver effective housing solutions * Managing complex cases involving vulnerable households, safeguarding concerns and domestic abuse * Maintaining accurate case records and ensuring statutory deadlines and performance targets are achieved * Responding to customer enquiries, complaints and Member enquiries in a professional and timely manner What You Will Need * Experience working as a Housing Options Officer within a Local Authority * Strong knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 Part VII and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 * Experience completing homelessness assessments, prevention and relief duties, and Personalised Housing Plans * Ability to make legally sound homelessness decisions and produce high-quality decision letters * Experience managing a high-volume caseload within a target-driven environment * Excellent communication, negotiation and customer service skills * Experience working with vulnerable households and complex homelessness cases * Knowledge of housing management systems such as Locata, Jigsaw, NEC or similar * Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands