Download Job Description - Bournemouth University

Job Description
Post/Job Title:
Housing Officer
Postholder:
Ref:
30430/SSS54
Location including building:
Any University Buildings
School/Professional Service:
Student Services
Group/Section:
Residential Services
Duration if temporary:
Fixed Term until 31 July 2016
Normal hours per week:
37 (evening and Saturday working as required)
(Some flexibility will be required in order to ensure time scales and deadlines are met).
Grade:
4
Accountable to:
General Manager, Residential Services
Operations Manager
Job Purpose
To provide high quality, efficient and customer focused letting and housing management services to
HE students (mostly Bournemouth University students) both in University managed accommodation
(Halls and Unilet managed houses) and students housed in private sector housing via the University
Letting Service. The postholder will be working within the Residential Services team whose aims are
to provide safe, comfortable and value for money accommodation to students, which facilitates their
educational, social and personal development and thereby enhances their student experience at
Bournemouth.
The postholder will be part of a small letting and housing management team, requiring close cooperative working with colleagues and covering of absences as required.
Main Responsibilities
Support the Senior Housing Officers (SHO’s), in particular ensuring that letting, reletting and
financial targets are met to ensure continued profitability of the Service and undertake advanced
rent arrears management as directed.
Take full part in the “front of house” operations of the Service, including communicating with
prospective Landlords and student Tenants (including their parents as guarantors) and
promoting the Services available. Take part in any rota system to act as “Duty Officer” for
private sector housing queries, logging and arranging maintenance and referring cases to other
Housing Officers according to agreed principles.
Negotiate lettings with student tenants by assessing their needs, showing them property
particulars, arranging property visits, accompanying on viewings and taking holding deposits.
Raise all relevant paperwork, with the support of Housing Assistants (where available),
including the drafting of tenancy applications, reference requests, guarantor requests, tenancy
agreements and organising (where required) an inventory and schedule of condition to be taken,
as well as ensuring that completion of lettings is satisfactorily concluded with copy relevant
paperwork provided to all parties, keys issued and changes of utilities organised.
Support, advise and educate (where necessary) landlords and tenants in all aspects of housing
law and practice, and actively participate in training and continuous professional development to
work towards achieving excellence in the field of housing management, and encourage other
members of the team to do likewise
Ensure the smooth operation of any University Managed private sector housing by visiting
property, organising maintenance and repairs, and responding to both Landlord and Tenant (or
Licencee ) enquiries and concerns.
Keep the SHO’s, Deputy Residential Services Manager (DRSM)and/or the Residential Services
Manager (RSM) advised of any significant issues relating to residents’ conduct which may
warrant use of the student disciplinary code.
Attend occasional University Open Days as part of a rota, some of which are on a Saturday, to
advise prospective students on any and all University accommodation matters.
Record and respond to complaints from members of the public concerning student let property
(whether let by the University or not).
Undertake any other responsibilities as may be required from time to time as directed by senior
manager
Organisation Chart
Residential Services Operations Manager
General Managers
Senior Housing Officer
Halls Operations Officer
Welfare & Communities Officer
Housing Officers
Housing Assistants
Halls Supervisors
Dimensions
As a team, letting between 150-250 private sector properties, and managing an additional 100-150
properties (a total stock of around 300-400).
Contacts
Internal:
Accommodation staff, the Residential Services Manager, the “ASKBU” University
front of house team, support services including Counselling and the Student Union,
Facilities Management team
External:
Landlords, Maintenance contractors, members of the public (neighbours), Local
Authority departments, training organisations
Challenges
Being an effective and flexible communicator, enabling complex negotiations of lettings, sometimes
with Landlords and tenants who may be difficult to influence, ensuring high standards of customer
service are provided to all customers especially in the face of (occasionally) unreasonable demands,
explaining housing law and practice, motivating other members of the team to perform well and
achieve targets, covering other posts within the Service as required.
Additional Information
There may need to be some flexibility in work patterns, for example at the busiest times of the year
(e.g. September/October, January/February), and some Saturday working may be a requirement in
the future with time off in lieu given.
NB: The post holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the
University’s Dignity, Diversity and Equality Policy Statement.
The purpose of the job description is to indicate the general level of responsibility and location of the
position. The duties may vary from time to time without changing their general character or level of
responsibility.
All employees have an obligation to be aware of the Universities Environmental Policy, Carbon
Management Plan and associated documents, and to ensure that they carry out their day-to-day
activities in an environmental responsible manner.
February 2016
Person Specification
Post/Job Title: Housing Officer
Post No. 30430/SSS54
School/Support Service: Student Services
SELECTION CRITERIA
Date: February 2016
Essential/
Desirable
Knowledge (including experience & qualifications
Experience in a pressured student/user/customer focused environment
Demonstrable experience in providing service excellence
Sales and/or negotiation experience
Good working knowledge of Housing, Fire and Health & Safety regulations
Experience or knowledge of the Higher Education Sector
Experience or knowledge of housing law, hotel, estate or letting agency work
Experience or knowledge of residential property repair and maintenance
Skills
Strong organisational skills
Good oral and written communication skills
Good interpersonal/empathy and listening skills
Strong customer service skills
Good all round IT skills (databases, word processing and spreadsheets)
Strong problem solving ability
Attributes
Confident and approachable
Commitment to equality and diversity
Pragmatic and with significant “common sense”
Able to travel to multiple sites within the Dorset area
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