Housing Advisor (SO2)

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: London Borough of Lambeth
Directorate: Housing
Division: Housing Needs
Service Area: Housing Options / Homelessness Prevention
Number of Positions: 1

Location

Office Base:
Camberwell Foyer
90 Denmark Hill
London
SE5 8RX

Working Arrangement:
Hybrid working – 3 days per week in the office and 2 days remote.
Monday is a mandatory office day. The other 2 office days will operate on a rota.

Contract Details

Contract Type: Temporary – Inside IR35
Hours: 35 hours per week
Target Start Date: 12 October 2026 / ASAP subject to onboarding
End Date: 11 April 2027
Duration: 26 weeks
Candidate Submission Deadline: 17 September 2026
Target Interview Date: 23 September 2026 – online via Microsoft Teams

Pay & Package

PAYE Rate: £23.51 per hour

Job Overview

London Borough of Lambeth is seeking an experienced Housing Advisor (SO2) to join its Housing Options and Homelessness Prevention service.

The successful candidate will prevent and relieve homelessness in accordance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the associated Code of Guidance, relevant case law and best practice. You will undertake housing needs assessments, prepare tailored Personalised Housing Plans, explore all appropriate housing options and manage a complex caseload in a busy customer-facing environment.

Where prevention or relief is not possible, you will investigate homeless applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and recommend legally sound outcomes for approval.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake detailed housing needs assessments and create tailored Personalised Housing Plans.
• Manage a demanding caseload of priority and non-priority need customers.
• Prevent or relieve homelessness through advice, advocacy, negotiation, mediation and conciliation.
• Investigate homeless applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and recommend appropriate decisions.
• Provide a front-of-house, appointment, drop-in and telephone housing advice service.
• Interview customers, gather and verify evidence and maintain accurate, detailed case records.
• Work with households asked to leave family or friends and conduct home visits where required.
• Assess temporary accommodation needs and follow established placement and sign-up procedures.
• Explore private rented housing and other alternatives to temporary accommodation.
• Provide advice concerning private rented and owner-occupied accommodation, affordability and property condition.
• Negotiate with landlords and support residents affected by welfare reform or benefit changes.
• Help customers access permanent council or registered provider accommodation.
• Assess housing-related support needs and make referrals to appropriate Pathways and support services.
• Support residents in supported housing to move into suitable general-needs accommodation.
• Manage conflicting priorities across casework, face-to-face interviews and telephone enquiries.
• Work effectively with vulnerable customers and people who may be challenging or demanding.
• Meet individual and service performance targets while maintaining accurate IT and case-management records.
• Apply safeguarding, equality, diversity, data protection and health and safety requirements throughout the work.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Recent, substantial experience working as a Housing Options Officer, Homelessness Prevention Officer, Housing Advisor or in a closely comparable statutory homelessness role.
• Strong working knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, statutory guidance and relevant homelessness case law.
• Experience completing housing needs assessments and producing Personalised Housing Plans.
• Experience investigating homeless applications and preparing or recommending legally defensible decisions.
• Proven ability to prevent or relieve homelessness using negotiation, mediation, advocacy and a full range of housing options.
• Experience managing a complex statutory homelessness caseload in a busy local-authority or comparable environment.
• Knowledge of priority need, intentional homelessness, local connection, eligibility and suitability considerations.
• Experience assessing temporary accommodation requirements and exploring private rented sector solutions.
• Understanding of welfare benefits, welfare reform, housing affordability and tenancy sustainment.
• Strong interviewing, evidence-gathering, case-recording and written communication skills.
• Ability to work sensitively and professionally with vulnerable, distressed or challenging customers.
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation, customer service and IT skills.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Ability to complete a Standard DBS check and all required pre-employment documentation.
• Ability to work from Camberwell three days per week, including every Monday.

Desirable

• Previous Housing Options or statutory homelessness experience within a London local authority.
• Experience using local-authority housing and homelessness case-management systems.
• Experience conducting home visits and mediating with family members, landlords or accommodation providers.
• Knowledge of private sector housing, supported housing pathways, welfare rights and housing benefit.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role based at Camberwell Foyer, 90 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8RX. Attendance in the office is required three days each week. Monday is mandatory, with the other two office days arranged on a rota.

The successful candidate must provide two years of references/work history and complete the required declarations, Lambeth new starter documentation, confidentiality agreement and Standard DBS process.

Interviews are scheduled to take place online via Microsoft Teams on 23 September 2026.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference

OR114749