Purpose of the post
•Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
•Develop contacts and facilitate access to high quality property in the Private Sector for homeless applicants by fostering a positive partnership with Private Sector Landlords, Registered Social Landlords, Letting Agencies and relevant agencies to reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation.
•Introduce, consistently review and develop the Private Sector Leasing Scheme and the Council's 'landlord offer' in order to encourage private landlords to collaborate to earmark their property for clients of the Options Service and Housing Solutions
Responsibility for functions
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Main duties
•Make the most of the access to the accommodation for homeless clients or clients that are at risk of becoming homeless by contacting Private Sector Landlords, Registered Social Landlords, Letting Agencies and relevant agencies to develop good work relationships with the intention to increase the amount of accommodation available.
•Develop and promote Gwynedd Council’s Private Sector Leasing Scheme Programme
•Manage property on lease under the Private Sector Leasing Scheme, to include but not restricted to:
•Establishing tenancies e.g. provide all required documentation
•Visiting tenants regularly
•Monitoring tenancies
•Inspecting properties
•Dealing with any complaints or maintenance issues
•Ensuring that rent is collected and that benefit applications have been completed
•Collecting service payments
•Monitoring and dealing with arrears.
•Ensuring that the property gets re-let as soon as possible
•Ensuring that the property has been cleaned and is of the expected standard when the lease ends
•Provide information and advice in relation to collaborating with private landlords, registered social landlords and other representative agencies; by providing a high level of customer care by recognising them as business owners and important strategy partners to satisfy the housing needs and get to grips with homelessness.
•Provide information on developing the Council's policy in relation to access to other holdings.
•Contribute to developing and delivering the Council's broader Private Sector Strategy in relation to access to other holdings through working in partnership, attending meetings and working groups as required and ensure that the Housing Service's Private Sector Leasing Scheme and 'private landlord offer' is an integral part of the broader Private Rental Strategy and incorporated into it.
•Provide advice on housing matters for landlords and assist owner occupiers to note the best way of letting property.
•Act as a specific point of contact in the Housing and Property Department for private landlords
•Work closely with the Council's Private Sector team and assist in arranging a regular Landlords Forum
•Deliver and keep the Private Sector Leasing Scheme and the 'landlord offer' under review, in order to encourage private landlords to work with us
•Monitor the financial incentive offered by the Council's Housing Service for Private Landlords i.e. the financial deposit and non-monetary bonds, jointly with the Leaders of the Homeless Teams and the Senior Operational Housing Manager
•Develop and maintain information packs and relevant publicity material for private landlords and tenants
•Develop and deliver different 'moving forward' models in order to facilitate the moving forward of property appropriately and in a timely manner with support commissioned by Supporting People, including property management, where appropriate e.g. moving forward, shared, temporary accommodation
•Develop and maintain a high-quality effective working relationship based on trust and respect, with a wide variety of co-workers and external agencies, including Private Landlords, Housing Benefit, Supporting People, Accommodation and Support Providers, Housing Enforcement, Empty Property Officers, Housing Solutions Officers, Temporary Accommodation officer and Tenancy Support Workers etc.
•Assist in fulfilling the Council's aims of reducing the number of homeless people, especially homeless families who have been placed in bed and breakfast accommodation
•Collaborate with homelessness officers to identify and assess the needs of homeless applicants for temporary accommodation and visit the applicants as required.
•Identify appropriate temporary and permanent accommodation for homeless clients
•Develop a growth strategy, map gaps in the provision and review and achieve targets to increase the number, type and geographical range of landlords and suitable private rental property
•Collaborate with the tenancy support service and any other support agency that could assist the tenants with support to get, establish and maintain their tenancy
•Contact, maintain and develop an effective work relationship within the Council's Housing and other departments and outside agencies
•Willingness to undertake training to qualify to assess property in accordance with the Housing Health and Safety grading system.
•Keep records, data and up to date information and prepare reports as required and assist the Homelessness Team Leader to complete relevant statistics and the departmental performance indicators.
•Attend meetings as needed
•Attend training as needed
•Ensure compliance with any risk assessment arrangements identified in risk assessments that are relevant to the work.
•Carry out all duties relating to the post in accordance with the Council's policies on Equal Opportunity, Standing Orders, Health and Safety Legislation and other requirements of the Department and the Council.
•Responsibility for self-development.
•Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
•Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
•Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
•Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
•Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
•Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
Special circumstances
•The post-holder may be required to attend meetings, sub-committees and working groups, some outside normal working hours.