Right to Buy Officer

Full Job Description

6 months contract with a Central/South London based Local Authority

Job Summary:

·      We are looking for an experienced Right to Buy Officer to join our team for a 6-month period. The increase in applications has created the need for additional expertise in handling Right to Buy cases.

·         As a Right to Buy Officer, you will be responsible for guiding applicants through the process, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing support and advice as needed.

·     Once training is completed, the right candidate will be responsible for managing a caseload of applicants, liaising with them both in person and remotely to provide guidance and support.

·         It is essential that the chosen individual can maintain a professional tone and approach, ensuring that all applicants feel supported and informed throughout their journey. 

Key Duties/Accountabilities:

·         To have an intricate understanding of the Housing Act 1985 and case law developments and how that sets out the prescribed Right to Buy program and informs your judgment and decision making when assessing Right to Buy applications.

·         To contribute to the running of the Sales and Acquisitions Group by reporting to the Right to Buy Manager on all Right to Buy cases that are allocated to you as a Right to Buy officer.

·         To manage your own cases as a Right to Buy officer as you guide customers through the processes of the Right to Buy scheme as set out under the Housing Act 1985.  Ensuring all Right to Buy applications are processed efficiently, documents are drafted correctly, and all other tasks are completed within the legislative requirements of the Housing Act 1985 and any internal procedures.

·         To be responsible for preparing and managing the production and completion of pre-sales documentation to ensure the Council is complying with its obligations under Right to Buy and AML/CFT legislation. Duties include liaising with tenants, external solicitors, mortgage lenders and financial advisors with regard to Right to Buy progresses, internal departments with regards to monies on completion, rents accounts and tenancy issues, and the internal departments on AML/CFT requirements, completing financial assessments to identify cases of fraud or money laundering, along with assisting in-house and contracted solicitors when completing the sale of Council property.

·         To be an additional point of contact on issues relating to the Right to Buy scheme and Council policy, liaising as appropriate with other local authorities, Anti-fraud team and other Council departments to ensure applications are processed in accordance with statute and other applicable regulations.

·    To ensure that services are innovative and quality driven and:

·         are responsive to customers’ needs and service requirements.

·         Demonstrate clear corporate direction, vision and style within the statutory framework.

·         Achieves effectiveness and efficiency in operation.

·         To use client management, professional landlord and tenant, administrative, financial, legislative and interpersonal skills to deliver a high-quality service.

·         To assess and make all decisions to ensure a proper level of service is maintained. To ensure you have a good working knowledge of legislation and case law when exercising your judgement and making decisions in evaluation Right to Buy applications.

·         To understand and advise colleagues within Specialist Housing Services and other divisions within the Housing and Community Services Department on the legislative framework so that procedures to maximise income are set up effectively and adhere to the department’s organisational objectives.

·         To achieve such targets that may be set for the Sales and Acquisitions Group by the Council’s Senior Management Team, Departmental Management Team and line management team and to ensure service provision is controlled and properly managed.

·        To contribute to developing policies and procedures governing the Right to Buy Scheme and other schemes managed by the Sales and Acquisitions Group.

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Essential Experience Required:

·         Detailed knowledge of using and interpreting the Government Legislation relating to the right to buy, including the Housing Acts 1985 and 1996.

·      Extensive knowledge and experience of managing right to buy applications and processes.

·         Experience of implementing legislation and policy to applications.

·         Experience of using a wide range of computer packages, including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Additional information to note:

·         This is a hybrid role. We are currently working at least 2 days a week in the office for, providing a balance between in-person collaboration and remote work. However, this is depended on the needs of the service and may be adjusted as necessary.

The closing date for this position is ASAP.