Job details:
Employer: Aylesbury Homeless Action Group (AHAG)
Job title: Private Rented Sector Access Officer
Salary: £32,800 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Responsible to: AHAG Services Manager
Base: AHAG, Aylesbury, with flexible working across north Buckinghamshire and some home working
Geographical coverage: North Buckinghamshire
The post will involve substantial travel throughout north Buckinghamshire. A driving licence and access to a vehicle are not required, but the postholder must be prepared and able to travel regularly using appropriate means.
Purpose of the role
The Private Rented Sector Access Officer will develop and deliver AHAG’s private rented sector access service across north Buckinghamshire.
The officer will build strong working relationships with private landlords and letting agents, identify suitable accommodation and support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to secure and sustain private rented tenancies.
The officer will manage clients assigned to them from initial assessment through to securing accommodation and subsequent tenancy sustainment. They will act as the principal point of contact for participating landlords and will work proactively to resolve difficulties before they place a tenancy or landlord relationship at risk.
During approximately the first six months, a major focus of the role will be establishing relationships with landlords and letting agents and developing an initial supply of suitable properties. The officer will also begin making suitable placements during this period, with the first placements expected by April 2027.
The officer will work closely with the Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme (WRDGS), which will provide specialist training and continuing professional support, and with AHAG colleagues, Wycombe Homeless Connection, Buckinghamshire Council and other agencies involved in the countywide homelessness pathway.
Main responsibilities:
Developing relationships with landlords and letting agents
- Lead AHAG’s engagement with private landlords and letting agents across north Buckinghamshire, with a major initial focus on building a viable network of suitable properties.
- Identify and approach prospective landlords and agents, explaining the service and available support.
- Develop trusted and sustainable relationships with participating landlords and act as their principal contact within AHAG during normal working hours.
- Work with WRDGS to apply a consistent approach to landlord engagement and private rented sector access across Buckinghamshire.
- Maintain accurate records of landlord contacts, properties and opportunities, while promoting fair and lawful treatment of prospective and existing tenants.
Referral, assessment and matching
- Receive internal and external referrals and screen them against the project’s agreed eligibility and suitability criteria.
- Assess each client’s housing needs, affordability, support requirements and barriers to accessing and sustaining private rented accommodation.
- Consider the suitability of available properties and any identifiable risks to the client, landlord, property, neighbours or future landlord relationships. Identify whether risks can be managed through appropriate support, without automatically excluding people because they have complex needs.
- Match suitable clients with properties, explain and record decisions, and refer people elsewhere when private rented accommodation is not currently appropriate.
Supporting access to accommodation
- Undertake property visits and accompanied viewings and help clients assess whether accommodation is affordable and suitable.
- Negotiate rents and tenancy arrangements with landlords and agents where appropriate.
- Help clients access deposits, rent in advance, guarantees, incentives or other assistance, obtaining the necessary approval before committing expenditure.
- Prepare clients for their tenancy by ensuring they understand its terms, household costs and their responsibilities, working with other AHAG services where required.
Tenancy sustainment and early intervention
- Provide needs-led support after placement until the tenant can manage independently, receives suitable support elsewhere, no longer needs assistance or chooses not to engage.
- Agree and regularly review support arrangements with each tenant according to their circumstances.
- Help tenants manage rent, benefits, household bills, property responsibilities and communication with their landlord.
- Identify and respond promptly to arrears, benefit problems, property concerns, neighbour disputes, changing support needs and difficulties in the tenant-landlord relationship.
Informal resolution, advice and conflicts of interest
- Act as the initial point of contact for concerns affecting tenancies involving participating landlords and seek supportive, informal resolution wherever appropriate.
- Escalate actual or potential conflicts of interest to the AHAG Services Manager and follow their decision about how each party should be supported.
Safeguarding, safety and organisational responsibilities
- Follow AHAG’s safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, equality, health and safety and lone-working procedures.
- Undertake client visits, property visits and accompanied viewings safely, including some lone working, and report safeguarding or other serious concerns promptly.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and handle personal information securely and lawfully.
- Work in a trauma-informed, person-centred and non-judgemental way, treating clients, landlords, colleagues and partners with dignity and respect.
- Participate in supervision, training, appraisal and team meetings and undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the purpose and level of the role.
There is no routine requirement to provide an out-of-hours service.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Experience of supporting people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, complex needs or significant disadvantage, including managing a caseload and assessing housing and support needs.
- The ability to build credible, constructive relationships with private landlords and letting agents while engaging respectfully and effectively with clients.
- The ability to assess the suitability of clients and properties, identify and manage risks, and make sound, evidence-based decisions independently.
- Strong negotiation, mediation and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage difficult situations, maintain professional boundaries and recognise conflicts of interest.
- The ability to organise a varied workload, maintain accurate records, work safely during visits and lone working, and travel regularly throughout north Buckinghamshire.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of private rented sector access, tenancy sustainment, landlord engagement or a rent deposit or guarantee scheme.
- Knowledge of the Buckinghamshire private rented market, homelessness law, welfare benefits or housing-related financial assistance.
- Experience of establishing a new service or network and working within a multi-agency partnership.
Pay: From £32,800.00 per year
Work Location: In person
