Tenant Money Advisor

An opportunity has risen, on a fixed term contact, to support our customers of Swindon Borough Council, with a focus on maximising income, whilst supporting to improve and avoid rent arrears for the customer., This role is supporting our customers housed by Swindon Borough council, prospective customers, and those housed in our temporary supported housing buildings, who may be experiencing financial difficulty, suffering with rent arrears, or requiring benefit support to improve their financial situation. Working closely with our lettings teams, you will be part of the team that assess and contact each new prospective resident, giving welfare benefit advice and assistance ensuring that they are moving into their new property in the set up to maintain a healthy rent account, identifying any benefit caps, or changes in benefit entitlements.

In addition, you will deal with referrals efficiently from our Neighbourhoods and Rent teams, where customers are struggling financially and with rent payments, changes in financial or household circumstances in order to maximise income. Finding solutions to reduce and avoid rent arrears in order to sustain tenancies. Other duties will include backdating, discussing affordable repayment agreements, or referring for specialist debt advice.

You will be responsible for the management of the landlord's Universal Credit portal, verification of new and existing Universal credit claims, annual rent increases, assessing the needs of alternative payment arrangements, third party deductions. Other responsibilities will be liaising with the DWP and the Housing benefit department, to support tenants with any discrepancies with benefit claims.

You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act "for the effective performance of a customer-facing role").

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It's why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you'll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We'll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we'll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you'll be proud to say it was made better with you.

You will have experience with engaging with customers on sensitive matters, and have a sound knowledge of the welfare benefit system, to make solution based decisions, Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don't meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we'd love to hear from you.

At Swindon Borough Council, we want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that's who we're doing it for - the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you'll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It's all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.