Senior Housing Officer (South and Central)
Luton Borough Council
United Kingdom
Published today
Housing officer
Full Time
About the job
Salary: £39,152 - £41,771 a year plus £963 essential car user allowance
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
As a Senior Housing Officer (South & Central) at Luton Borough Council, you will play a pivotal role in delivering a high-quality, responsive and customer-focused tenancy management service across a defined patch of council homes.
Working closely with the Area and Community Safety Manager, you will lead on complex tenancy matters and ensure the service consistently meets performance targets and regulatory requirements, including the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, Awaab's Law and the Renters' Rights Act. You will oversee case reviews and audits, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring a high standard of service delivery and resident experience.
A key part of the role is leading and supporting Estates Officers while providing guidance to Housing Officers on more complex cases. You will help drive a collaborative, high-performing team culture and work closely with ASB Officers and partner agencies to deliver joined-up services-particularly for vulnerable residents with complex needs such as mental health challenges, substance misuse, domestic abuse or hoarding. Safeguarding will be central to your approach.
You will manage a varied caseload and remain hands-on, carrying out tenancy audits, estate inspections and home visits, ensuring tenancy conditions are upheld and properties meet required standards. Where necessary, you will take enforcement action, including preparing legal documentation, attending court and progressing evictions, as well as tackling issues such as housing fraud.
The role also involves responding to complaints, MP enquiries, FOI requests and safeguarding reviews, alongside producing clear and insightful performance reports for a range of audiences. You will maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing legislation and best practice, providing accurate advice and supporting tenancy sustainment through effective partnership working.
As a visible presence across South & Central neighbourhoods in Luton, you will build strong local knowledge, represent the Council at meetings and community initiatives, and actively support resident engagement and participation. You will contribute to service development projects, helping to shape and improve housing services and neighbourhood working.
This is a varied and impactful role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is committed to making a real difference to local communities.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
We are looking for an experienced housing professional with strong leadership skills and a proven ability to manage teams, systems, and processes in a tenancy management or similar environment. You will be confident in overseeing administrative functions, driving performance, and supporting staff to deliver excellent services to residents.
You will be an effective communicator, able to write reports, present complex information clearly, and engage with a wide range of audiences including residents, colleagues, and external partners. You can represent the service professionally at meetings, build positive relationships, and work collaboratively to achieve outcomes.
You are skilled at managing complex and sensitive situations, offering practical advice and solutions while maintaining professionalism and empathy. You are highly organised, able to work on your own initiative, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver results in a demanding environment.
You will have a thorough understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a strong commitment to promoting equal opportunities across housing services. You will also bring specialist knowledge of housing legislation, regulations, and best practice, alongside experience in housing management, welfare reform, benefits, debt management, and tenancy sustainment.
Membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing, a relevant professional qualification, or equivalent experience is desirable, or you should be willing to work towards this.
The role requires flexibility, including attending meetings and working outside normal office hours when needed, as well as the ability to respond to emergencies. You must hold a full driving license with business insurance and have access to a vehicle to travel around Luton and surrounding areas.
About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough
Application Process
On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days' annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 19.2 per cent (at April 2026) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
Salary: £39,152 - £41,771 a year plus £963 essential car user allowance
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
As a Senior Housing Officer (South & Central) at Luton Borough Council, you will play a pivotal role in delivering a high-quality, responsive and customer-focused tenancy management service across a defined patch of council homes.
Working closely with the Area and Community Safety Manager, you will lead on complex tenancy matters and ensure the service consistently meets performance targets and regulatory requirements, including the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, Awaab's Law and the Renters' Rights Act. You will oversee case reviews and audits, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring a high standard of service delivery and resident experience.
A key part of the role is leading and supporting Estates Officers while providing guidance to Housing Officers on more complex cases. You will help drive a collaborative, high-performing team culture and work closely with ASB Officers and partner agencies to deliver joined-up services-particularly for vulnerable residents with complex needs such as mental health challenges, substance misuse, domestic abuse or hoarding. Safeguarding will be central to your approach.
You will manage a varied caseload and remain hands-on, carrying out tenancy audits, estate inspections and home visits, ensuring tenancy conditions are upheld and properties meet required standards. Where necessary, you will take enforcement action, including preparing legal documentation, attending court and progressing evictions, as well as tackling issues such as housing fraud.
The role also involves responding to complaints, MP enquiries, FOI requests and safeguarding reviews, alongside producing clear and insightful performance reports for a range of audiences. You will maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing legislation and best practice, providing accurate advice and supporting tenancy sustainment through effective partnership working.
As a visible presence across South & Central neighbourhoods in Luton, you will build strong local knowledge, represent the Council at meetings and community initiatives, and actively support resident engagement and participation. You will contribute to service development projects, helping to shape and improve housing services and neighbourhood working.
This is a varied and impactful role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is committed to making a real difference to local communities.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
We are looking for an experienced housing professional with strong leadership skills and a proven ability to manage teams, systems, and processes in a tenancy management or similar environment. You will be confident in overseeing administrative functions, driving performance, and supporting staff to deliver excellent services to residents.
You will be an effective communicator, able to write reports, present complex information clearly, and engage with a wide range of audiences including residents, colleagues, and external partners. You can represent the service professionally at meetings, build positive relationships, and work collaboratively to achieve outcomes.
You are skilled at managing complex and sensitive situations, offering practical advice and solutions while maintaining professionalism and empathy. You are highly organised, able to work on your own initiative, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver results in a demanding environment.
You will have a thorough understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a strong commitment to promoting equal opportunities across housing services. You will also bring specialist knowledge of housing legislation, regulations, and best practice, alongside experience in housing management, welfare reform, benefits, debt management, and tenancy sustainment.
Membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing, a relevant professional qualification, or equivalent experience is desirable, or you should be willing to work towards this.
The role requires flexibility, including attending meetings and working outside normal office hours when needed, as well as the ability to respond to emergencies. You must hold a full driving license with business insurance and have access to a vehicle to travel around Luton and surrounding areas.
About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough
Application Process
On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days' annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 19.2 per cent (at April 2026) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel