Advice Assistant (Lettings)

Gateshead Council are looking to appoint a Lettings Assistant on a full-time permanent basis to provide advice to customers looking to rehouse and shortlist successful applicants for properties. The role is based at the Civic Centre with the option of hybrid working.

The successful candidate will be joining the service at an extremely exciting time as Gateshead Council move forward with an ambitious new vision for housing in Gateshead. A vision which will ensure the housing needs of all local people are met, enabling them to thrive.

The role involves providing tailored advice to customers seeking rehousing and a proactive approach to lettings. You will be expected to provide advice via a variety of means such as face to face, telephone, letters & email. The post may also involve home visits.

The successful candidate will be required to check property offers and carry out audits on customers to ensure that properties are allocated to the correct bidder in line with policy. The role involves seeking rehousing solutions for applicants and taking proactive steps to minimise the time a property is vacant. This will involve effective liaison with other services and organisations to provide customers with tailored advice and information regarding their circumstances and prospects. You will be required to assess customer details in respect to references, vetting's, pre-termination inspections and all other pre-allocation checks. Quality standards are important to ensure the letting is made to the most appropriate person and attention to detail is therefore vital.

Customer service is a key part of this role and effective communication skills are essential; you should have experience of dealing with enquiries in a professional, caring and helpful manner.

Working as part of a large team, a positive work ethic and flexible, can-do attitude is important. Due to the high workload across the service, it is essential that the successful applicant has excellent organisational and time management skills to prioritise tasks. The successful applicant may also be required to provide wider support to the lettings section as necessary therefore effective team work is essential.

You'll be paid a competitive salary plus additional allowances where relevant.

We'll help you save for your future with an outstanding employer contribution to your pension of approximately 18.9% per year.

You'll get a generous annual leave package of 26 days annual leave (plus two additional statutory days) for new employees, rising to 30 days (plus two additional statutory days) after 5 years continuous local government service.

You have the chance to buy up to 10 additional holidays per year.

You'll have the opportunity to participate in the Council's Flexi time scheme, subject to management approval and business needs.

You'll have access to great health and wellbeing support, including discounted membership to GO Gateshead Leisure Services and ability to use our cycle to work scheme.

We'll give you the chance to take advantage of various offers and discounts on shopping and household spend, including O2, Virgin Media and Dell

Please take a look at the full job profile. It's important that you read it in full and check that you meet all of the essential criteria. Please demonstrate in your application how you meet each point of the essential criteria.