Find out more about the roles of our housing officers. This time, we hear from one of our housing officers
What is your job title?
Housing Officer
What are the main responsibilities of your role?
We are a point of contact for people who need advice or support to help them maintain their tenancy and keep their homes safe and in good condition. This includes helping tenants understand their tenancy agreement and what is expected of them, as well as connecting them with other services and support when needed.
We carry out home visits to new tenants to see how they are settling in and we visit existing tenants too. This is a chance to raise any concerns, report repairs and discuss any referrals needed to other services. We will also check household details to make sure we have the most up-to-date information.
What does a typical day look like for a Housing Officer?
No day is the same. We visit tenants in their homes or speak to them over the telephone, we report repairs and make referrals to other council teams or external services. Sometimes a routine visit which should take 10 minutes could take over an hour because of issues raised by the tenant, such as anti-social behaviour. Some people we meet are isolated and lonely and this role makes you realise just how common that is and how we can connect them to their local community.
What support do you provide to council tenants?
We support tenants with maintaining their tenancies by offering advice and referrals to support agencies if needed. We help to ensure any concerns are heard and understood and often work with other teams to help get the best possible outcome.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The variety. We work with lots of other teams across the council and external agencies. Within a day you can be carrying out a joint visit with social services, arranging a lock change for an abandoned property and visiting a family who have just moved into their new home.
What do you enjoy most about working with tenants?
I enjoy meeting a wide range of people from across the borough, many of whom have lived in Chesterfield all their lives and have strong connections to their local communities.
I also enjoy building positive relationships with tenants, helping them feel comfortable and supported. It’s rewarding to develop trust and see tenants engage positively with Chesterfield Borough Council through the service we provide as Housing Officers.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing positive outcomes for tenants following a visit or conversation. Knowing that our support has made a real difference to someone's situation is incredibly satisfying.
