Ipswich Borough Council
Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2DE
Salary: £33,143 - £35,412 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Reference: 0843
You’ll work as part of a rota, responding to housing enquiries over the phone and conducting face to face interviews with customers seeking advice or support. Outside of duty shifts, you’ll manage your own caseload — progressing applications, carrying out investigations and ensuring decisions are clear, accurate and robust.
Housing Options Officers play a crucial role in safeguarding some of the most vulnerable members of our community. You’ll be at the forefront of preventing and relieving homelessness, carrying out investigations, assessments and decisions that shape the support offered to people who are homeless or at risk. Your work will directly influence lives, offering stability, safety and hope when people need it most.
We’re seeking a proactive, forward thinking individual who thrives on solving problems and negotiating positive outcomes. You’ll deliver a high-quality service to customers facing housing difficulties, including those experiencing domestic abuse, and you’ll communicate confidently and compassionately with customers, landlords, accommodation providers, partner organisations and professionals across the sector.
About you
You’ll need Mathematics and English GCSEs (or equivalent skills). Knowledge of landlord and tenant law, debt advice, income maximisation and homelessness prevention initiatives will strengthen your application. Experience processing homelessness applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 — including producing detailed and legally sound s184 decisions — is highly advantageous, as is experience supporting victims of domestic abuse.
Previous frontline interviewing experience within a fast paced environment, applying the Housing Act 1996 Part VII, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Homelessness Act 2002, the Domestic Abuse Act 202, Renters Rights Act and related legislation, is desirable. However, full training will be provided for the right candidate who demonstrates the drive, empathy and skill needed to excel in this role. As well as a good salary, we offer a career Local Government pension scheme, generous holiday and sick pay entitlements, subsidised parking for work and leisure, public transport discounts, free swimming and gym membership, cycle purchase scheme, plenty of personal and professional development opportunities, flexible working, hybrid working opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme and the opportunity to work with great colleagues.
To find out more
For more information about this role please contact Miguel Pedro (He, His) on 01473 433209 or via email: [email protected]
If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know so that the appropriate arrangements can be put in place.
Please download the Job Description and Person Specification (pdf) to find out more about this role.
How to apply
To apply, please visit our website where you can complete the online application form for this vacancy.
Closing date: 5 August 2026.
Interview date: 17 August 2026.
Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to interview candidates who meet the essential criteria prior to the closing date and / or to close the opportunity to applicants once we receive sufficient applications
Please note CVs are not accepted.
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING
To apply, please follow the application process detailed above.
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