Housing Senior Income Recovery Officer

We are seeking an enthusiastic, passionate, organised and team-oriented individual who enjoys a challenge where change is your ally and creativity is your best friend. To work with us to continue to be the best landlord in the town by changing lives for the better and strengthen communities. We value our staff and the difference that they make to our customers.

Our Housing and Communities Teams are passionate about the people who live in our town; our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to live in a good quality sustainable home within in a lively and thriving neighbourhood. We have a great track record in building strategic partnerships, successfully bidding for Government funding, major project delivery.

This role is responsible for management and delivery of effective and efficient Housing Income Recovery for secure and non-secure council tenants, Rent Guarantee Scheme and Homes for Reading tenants including service charges, former tenant arrears and rechargeable repairs and emergency accommodation.

You will be responsible for delivering an effective Income collection and recovery service with a strong focus on supporting tenants to maintain their tenancies. Early intervention will be key here and you will need to constantly devise new strategies for rent collection in order for tenants to sustain their tenancies and maximise revenue.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

This post will be responsible for ensuring that as the service expands and develops that we have the correct resources in place to provide an excellent Housing Income Recovery service to our tenants and work collaboratively with our colleagues and partners to ensure that robust support packages are in place to support vulnerable tenants to sustain their tenancies effectively and avoid the revolving door to homelessness

Main duties and responsibilities

• To have continued commitment for Reading to stay in the top quartile nationally for rent collection.

• To provide statistical based data to the Housing Income Recovery Manager weekly on the teams performance promptly identifying areas for improvement

• To devise strategies to promote payment of rent and ensuring that teams are well versed in such practices.

• To lead, manage and develop the team to meet service objectives and achieve required standards and targets

• Ensure an effective frontline Housing Income Recovery Service is provided for customers in conjunction with other statutory and voluntary agencies

• Link the function with internal and external services to deliver a cohesive approach to meet the needs of the customer

• To deliver a high-quality service in which tenants and elected members are satisfied

About you

The following experience is required for this role:

• Evidence of a thorough knowledge of legal recovery procedures and legislation.

• Evidence of successful management skills to manage staff and deal with staffing issues within corporate procedures.

• Development and implementation of policy and procedures and quality of service.

• Building effective partnerships both internally and externally,

• Working in a Housing income and multi-disciplinary environment

• Experience of working with elected members.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential 

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Jamie.Hill@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date:Wednesday 5th November 2025
Interview Date:To be confirmed

Interview Process:To be confirmed

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.