PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• To deliver excellent professional and specialist services to residents in line with the Council?s vision, values, resources, strategic and service priorities.
• To maximise letting of over 7000 garages, underground car parks and other parking schemes.
• To ensure that the waiting list is managed appropriately and that properties are allocated in accordance with the lettings policy and procedure.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Responsibilities

• To contribute to the management of Home Ownership Services reporting to the Garages Services Manager on all matters relating to the management of garages and other non-residential properties (including barrow stores) the identification of disused garage areas, the letting of garages, parking areas and barrow stores and the management of voids and waiting lists.
• To represent Homeownership Services at public meetings, working groups Tenants and Home Owners Councils and other resident forums, presenting prepared reports and presentations and answering questions. To carry out consultation on all matters relating to the letting of garages, parking schemes and other non-residential properties with all relevant stakeholders.
• To ensure that all garages, barrow stores and other parking schemes are properly managed and let with minimum void periods and within target. To ensure that processes to minimise void periods and new lettings are properly managed. To inspect new voids including barrow stores and liaise with the Repairs and Contracts Officer to ensure that any necessary repairs are carried out in a minimum period of time in order to re-let within target. To work with the Voids and Repossessions and Repairs and Contracts Officers to actively pre-allocate non-residential properties within the portfolio to ensure that properties are let in a proactive manner reducing void times. To promote the availability of the garages available for letting in regards to the refurbished sites and hard to let areas and where there is not a high demand.
• To maintain the waiting list for both public sector residents and private sector clients to ensure that there is a continuous lettings process. To ensure that regular communication is instigated with those on the waiting list to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date and that the client base is kept informed of progress in accordance with current policies and procedures. Process and assess applications to ensure that Southwark?s direct tenants and leaseholders are complying with the terms and conditions of their tenancy / lease agreement.
• To ensure that garages, barrow stores and parking areas are fit for purpose in order to maximise income from licences. Including regular communal inspections to identify areas of disrepair, anti-social behaviour or other issues which may prohibit lettings. Including regular site visits and quarterly joint visits with the Repairs and Contracts Officer.
• Ensuring in partnership with the Repairs and Contracts Officer, Resident Services Officers, parking enforcement team or ASB team as appropriate that repairs or other issued are dealt with appropriately and in a timely way. Taking ownership of your patch and the overall portfolio to see issues through to their resolution.
• To use enforcement procedures to ensure that garage and other non-residential occupants are complying with the terms of their license agreements. To be responsible for regular inspections and investigations as necessary, and to manage breaches of the non-residential license agreements including the preparation for any necessary legal action. To arrange ad-hoc checks of the garage occupants to ensure full compliance with the license and that the correct named licensee is in use of the unit. To develop community links to enable such procedures.

Experience:

Experience of letting non-residential units including garages and barrow stores and experience of managing parking schemes in both the public and private sectors.

Experience of finding positive solutions to meet customer needs. Actively seeking alternative ways to solve problems

Experience in a customer facing role, ideally in a social housing field and or commercial property management

Aptitudes, Skills & Competencies:

Ability to work remotely without direct management and supervision using own initiative and to be self-motivated and committed to providing a service to customers.

Able to understand and effectively use legal processes