Housing Resettlement and Accommodation Visiting Officer

We are looking for a Housing Resettlement and Accommodation Visiting Officer to join our Housing Options and Solutions Team and support the delivery of high quality temporary accommodation, resettlement and housing support services across the Sevenoaks District.

This is an important new role within the Housing Resettlement and Accommodation Team, created as part of the Council’s recent Housing Service restructure. You’ll carry out planned and unannounced visits within and outside the Sevenoaks District, checking that accommodation is occupied appropriately and identifying concerns about welfare, property conditions, safety or tenancy responsibilities. Through regular contact with households, you’ll help ensure placements remain suitable and actively managed, with concerns identified early and referred for the right support or action.

About the role

You will be talking with applicants about their Personalised Housing Plans, reviewing progress and understanding any barriers to completing agreed actions. You’ll offer clear, practical advice on accommodation responsibilities and move-on options, helping households stay engaged and take steps towards settled accommodation.

Working closely with colleagues, housing providers, Kent County Council and partner agencies, you will help resolve issues affecting households and their placements. You’ll keep accurate, evidence-based visit records, follow up agreed actions and gather information to support homelessness casework, accommodation decisions and tenancy sustainment. You’ll also report concerns such as rent arrears, property damage or non-engagement and contribute to improving our visiting and monitoring procedures.

This role calls for clear, sensitive communication and a practical, customer-focused approach. You’ll need to balance support with clear expectations, organise a varied workload of visits and follow-up tasks, and respond promptly to urgent welfare, safeguarding and accommodation concerns. Accurate record-keeping, effective partnership working and a commitment to safe working practices will be central to your day-to-day work.

The role involves regular travel to temporary accommodation placements within and outside the District, with occasional evening or weekend visits by agreement to meet service needs.

About you

We are looking for someone with local authority housing experience, including advising customers and ideally experience of visiting customers in their current home. You will understand key housing legislation, including the Housing Act 1996 Part VII and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and be organised enough to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

You will be customer focused, empathetic and non-judgemental, with strong communication, negotiation and mediation skills. You should be confident working with vulnerable customers, landlords, accommodation providers and partner agencies, able to use Microsoft Office and housing systems effectively, and able to keep accurate records.

You will need GCSEs at grades A to C, or equivalent, including Maths and English. An NVQ Level 2 in Housing or Customer Care would be desirable. A basic DBS check, full driving licence and access to a car for business use are required.

This role will be based at our Council Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1HG. We currently operate a hybrid working model for the majority of our roles where your working time will be divided between the office (2-3 days) and home working/visits (2-3 days).

Do you want to know more about the role?

Please contact Daniel Watts, Housing Resettlement and Accommodation Team Leader or Stephen Tring, Housing Options and Solutions Manager on 01732 2272000 for an informal discussion about the role.

Closing date: 6 December 2026

Interview date: 15 December 2026

Contract: Fixed term - 12 month contract

Salary: £36,232 - £39,263 - pro rata to £19,584.86 - £21,223.24

Hours: 20 hours per week

Equal Opportunities:
Sevenoaks – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Sevenoaks District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Application notes:
Please apply online. If this is not possible, please contact a member of the HR team by emailing human.resources@sevenoaks.gov.uk to discuss how we can assist you in applying.