Leasehold Officer
Littlehampton, West Sussex
Temporary (3 Month Contract - Possibility for Temp to Perm)
Basic DBS Required
Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week - Immediate Start
Hybrid - Work in the Office 2/3 days Per Week

My client, a local authority based in Littlehampton, is looking for a Leasehold Officer to provide a high-quality service to leaseholders, ensuring management in line with lease terms, legislation, and best practices. You will be handling Section 20 consultations, Right to Buy enquiries and applications, and annual billing. Support financial compliance and maximise internal efficiencies through IT solutions. There is a backlog of cases and queries to address which will be the main focus of your role initially.

Responsibilities:

1. Prepare, check, and deliver Service Charge billing.
2. Handle Right to Buy enquiries and applications from start to finish.
3. Manage leasehold/RTB & Service charge queries, including finance, charges, and arrears.
4. Set up and collect direct debits.
5. Assist with various finance and income projects.
6. Maximise income collection and negotiate repayment of arrears.
7. Conduct Section 20 consultations in compliance with legislation.
8. Provide information for leaseholders, such as LPE1 forms.
9. Manage annual service charges and ground rent billing.
10. Process write-offs and refunds, and reconcile service charge accounts.
11. Maintain accurate financial records.
12. Record all tenant interactions using Council IT systems.
13. Participate in relevant training and annual appraisals.
14. Provide performance reports and respond to service enquiries or complaints.
15. Communicate effectively with staff and customers.
16. Comply with Council policies, including Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and Safeguarding.
17. Ensure all work complies with Council's standing orders and regulations.
18. Develop effective relationships with customers, colleagues, and agencies.
19. Perform additional duties as required.

Role Requirements:

• Desirable: CIH Housing qualifications, Finance qualifications, or willingness to study for housing qualifications.
• High level of customer service.
• High IT literacy, proficient in Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Monitoring and understanding rent/leasehold accounts.
• 1 year of account/budgetary management experience.
• Desirable: Experience in Leasehold management and administration, working within social housing.
• Full understanding of Section 20 processes and Right to Buy process.
• Desirable: Knowledge of the current national housing agenda and housing finance.
• Communication: Clear and respectful.
• Customer focus: Deliver solutions that meet customer needs.
• Industry Knowledge: Seek out best practices and CPD.
• Initiative: Resourceful and capable of making decisions independently.
• Organisational skills: Support the wider team.
• Problem-solving: Identify issues and implement solutions.
• Working with Stakeholders: Maintain effective relationships.
• Consistency, Adaptability, Empathy, Approachability.
• Basic DBS check required.
• No political restrictions or uniform requirement.
• No out-of-hours/weekend/evening/rota work required.
• Driver's license and vehicle access not specified.
• No essential car user allowance or market supplement.

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV now for consideration. If you require any additional information regarding the position, please call Alex at Service Care Solutions on (phone number removed) or send an E-Mail to (url removed)