About Us
Dawson Housing Limited is a Registered Social Housing Provider operating within the rapidly growing transitional and supported housing sector. We are committed to helping individuals access safe, stable, and high-quality accommodation while providing the practical support needed to rebuild confidence, regain independence, and create positive long-term outcomes. Our mission is to provide accessible, well-maintained housing that opens doors to new opportunities for individuals across diverse communities. We are committed to fostering growth, stability, and empowerment through affordable housing, homelessness support, general needs housing, and specialised services tailored to individual needs.
Every individual deserves a pathway to independence — not a revolving door of crisis
We’re now looking for an organised, detail‑driven and analytical person to join our team as a Rent Setting Officer, a key role at the heart of our finance department.
Role Purpose
- To set, review, and maintain rents and eligible service charges across the RSL’s housing stock, including Exempt Accommodation, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and accurate recovery through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Costs.
- To act as the organisation’s subject matter expert on rent setting policy, Housing Benefit regulations, and the rent components for supported and exempt schemes, maximising income while ensuring affordability and transparency for residents.
Key Responsibilities Rent Setting and Reviews
- Calculate and set rents and service charge schedules for general needs, supported housing, and Exempt Accommodation in line with RSH rent standards, rent caps, local authority guidance, and tenancy agreements.
- Prepare and implement annual rent and service charge reviews, issuing compliant rent variation notices within statutory timescales.
- Maintain and document robust cost breakdowns for service charges eligible vs ineligible, ensuring full recoverability where appropriate and clear audit trails.
- Monitor compliance with rent policy, including formula rent, target rent, and any permitted flexibility for supported and temporary accommodation.
- Benchmark rents and charges against comparable providers/markets and support periodic policy refreshes.
- Support the financial appraisal and rent/service charge modelling for new schemes, ensuring compliance with rent policy, housing benefit rules, and scheme viability prior to mobilsation.
Housing Benefit / Universal Credit
- Lead on Housing Benefit (HB) claims for Exempt Accommodation, ensuring claims are supported with appropriate evidence, breakdowns, and care/support/supervision justifications.
- Liaise proactively with local authority HB teams and DWP to resolve queries, overpayments, backdates, and appeals/mandatory reconsiderations.
- Track HB/UC outcomes, payment schedules, deductions, suspensions, and escalate complex cases to protect income.
- Advise internal teams on the treatment of eligible charges, non-resident services, and ineligible items, keeping guidance current.
Income Assurance and Systems
- Maintain rent and service charge data in the housing management system, ensuring accuracy of schemes, components, and tenancy-level charges.
- Work with Finance to reconcile rental income, HB receipts, suspense accounts, and service charge accruals; support year-end statements and audits.
- Produce regular KPIs and reports: HB claim turnaround, percentage of rent covered by HB/UC, void loss impact on service charge recovery, and compliance exceptions.
- Support implementation/testing of system changes for rent and service charge modules; champion data quality.
Resident Communication and Support
- Provide clear, accessible explanations of rent and service charges, HB/UC processes, and changes to residents and their advocates.
- Contribute to resident-facing materials such as rent review letters, service charge statements, FAQs and handle complex queries or complaints to resolution.
- Work closely with Housing Officers/Support Teams to prevent arrears arising from HB/UC issues, including proactive interventions at sign-up, transfer, and scheme changes.
Compliance, Governance, and Risk
- Ensure adherence to regulatory standards, charity/company law obligations where relevant, and internal policies.
- Maintain auditable records for Exempt Accommodation status.
- Support internal and external audits, FOI-style enquiries from local authorities, and contribute to responses on policy consultations impacting rent/HB.
- Identify and mitigate risks to rental income, including HB policy changes, LHA differentials, and scheme reclassification impacts.
Essential Criteria
- Demonstrable experience setting rents and service charges within social housing, with strong exposure to supported housing and/or Exempt Accommodation.
- In-depth knowledge of Housing Benefit regulations and UC Housing Costs for supported/exempt schemes, including eligible/ineligible service charge rules.
- Strong numeracy and analytical skills; able to construct and justify costed service charge schedules with clear audit trails.
- Proficient in housing management and finance systems, Excel and data validation.
- Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences; confident liaising with local authority HB teams.
- High attention to detail, confidentiality and accuracy under deadlines.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience preparing HB appeal packs and representing at tribunals/mandatory reconsiderations.
- Knowledge of RSH regulatory framework, rent caps/formula rent, and local authority commissioning for supported housing.
- Experience with common sector systems
- Relevant qualification CIH Level 3/4 or equivalent or HB/UC accreditation/certificates.
- Understanding of VAT treatment for service charges and basics of rent accounting.
Safeguarding, Equality, and Values
- Promote safeguarding and safe working practices, particularly within supported and Exempt Accommodation settings.
- Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion; ensure rent and HB processes are accessible and fair.
- Uphold organisational values and resident-centred service.
Other Information
- DBS check: Must hold a valid DBS certificate or be willing to obtain one.
- Travel: Occasional travel to schemes and local authority offices.
- Hours: 37.5 - 40 hours per week
What We Offer
- Opportunity to grow with a fast‑expanding housing business.
- Supportive and collaborative team culture.
- Ongoing training and career progression opportunities.
- Competitive salary based on experience and performance.
- Work that truly makes a positive social impact.
Work Location: In person
