Working in housing: What to expect

By getting a career in housing you can make a positive difference to your community. There are a range of career options to choose from in the industry and, with constant sector developments backed by politicians, professionals, and tenants, it’s an exciting time to work in housing. Here is a list of some core roles in the sector to help you understand your career potential.

Housing officer

A housing officer is an essential point of contact between tenants and housing organisations. They work with tenants to solve queries or issues, ensure their homes are safe and comfortable, and help new residents integrate with the community. Depending on the organisation they work for, housing officers can oversee different patch sizes or a range of tenancy types and might have more general or specialist responsibilities. To excel in this job, you will need great problem solving and communication skills. There will be times when you might have a lot on your plate, so time management and a positive attitude are also key.

You’ll likely earn between £26,000 and £42,000 per annum as a housing officer.

Resident involvement officer

A resident involvement officer typically has a more specific focus than a housing officer: to build communities and involve tenants in decisions relating to their homes. This helps maintain a positive relationship between housing organisations and residents, as well as giving residents more autonomy over their living situations. While being a resident involvement officer is a rewarding job, it can require unconventional working hours like evenings and weekends. Previous knowledge of the housing sector is also useful but not essential — your ability to connect with community members and bring them together is more important in this instance.

You’ll likely earn between £28,000 and £38,000 per annum as a resident involvement officer.

Supported housing worker

As with many jobs in the housing sector, being a supported housing worker can be incredibly demanding, but equally incredibly rewarding. You could work for a council, housing association, or perhaps a charity, but you will always be supporting some of society’s most vulnerable people. Those in supported housing can include older people, people with an offending past, young care leavers, people who have mental illness, and people who abuse drugs and alcohol — the bonds you form with the people you help will change both of your lives. Your responsibilities will change depending on who you work with but, as a rule, you will develop and follow support plans and implement safeguarding practices alongside a host of different tasks.

You’ll likely earn between £25,000 and £35,000 per annum as a supported housing officer.

Housing options officer

A housing options officer helps their local authority provide support to people at risk of becoming homeless. Everyone deserves a home in which they are safe and happy — you could have a significant impact on the wellbeing of others by working in this role. Knowledge of homelessness, housing policy and legal processes is essential, so this might be a role you train for and aspire towards as a housing professional if you don’t have the skillset yet.

You’ll likely earn between £28,000 and £40,000 per annum as a housing options officer.

Income officer

Getting a housing qualification will increase your chances of becoming an income officer as you will need to understand how best to help tenants in paying rent and service charges they are responsible for. Applying for and receiving support for people experiencing financial difficulties can be a challenging and lengthy process, so good communication skills and a level head are important qualities for you to have. You will have to keep in mind the best interests of the tenant and the housing organisation you work for, so it can be a tricky but rewarding balancing act.

You’ll likely earn between £30,000 and £42,000 per annum as an income officer.

Development project manager

Many people enter the housing industry because they want to make a positive impact on the amount of homes available to live in. As a development project manager, you will be directly involved in this. Your day job might include monitoring project timelines and risks, authorising payments and overseeing budget, and liaising with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to ensure everything runs smoothly. A degree or relevant professional qualification will most likely be needed to carry out this job to a satisfactory level.

You’ll likely earn between £38,000 and £58,000 per annum as a development project manager.

There are many ways to get into the housing industry. Taking notice of housing news, contributing to your local community, and seeking to understand people from all walks of life are great ways to gain experience before you start your role. There are a range of other roles available in the sector, so you’re bound to find the one that suits you soon enough.