Court Officer - Rents

Court Officer – Rents

Fixed term contract – 6 Months

Location: Lynton House

About Redbridge

Redbridge is an ambitious, diverse and exciting East London borough. Everything we do is driven by our commitment to strengthening relationships with local people and supporting our vision for the borough. As a result, we have developed innovative approaches to building stronger communities and transforming the way we deliver services.

We are one of the fastest-growing areas in the country and the third most diverse borough in London. Our residents are attracted by a combination of excellent schools, relatively affordable housing, high-quality green spaces, and outstanding transport links into central London.

The Opportunity

Are you ready for a new challenge?

This is an exciting time to join Redbridge Council. We are seeking an enthusiastic and talented Court Officer to join our Rent Service, supporting our vision of securing sustainable housing solutions through partnership working and customer-focused service delivery.

About the Role

Reporting to the Rent Specialist Support Manager, the Court Officer will play a key role in the escalation and management of rent arrears cases for both secure council tenants and residents living in temporary accommodation.

You will be part of a dedicated team of two Court Officers, ensuring that all recovery action is compliant with internal procedures, statutory requirements and relevant legislation. The team is responsible for preparing and presenting housing possession cases at court, managing high-volume caseloads that have progressed beyond the transactional stage of recovery.

Working closely with the Rent Collection Team, the Rent Specialist Support Team and other key stakeholders you will support the smooth transition of cases through the recovery process and manage your own caseload through to resolution, including possession action and eviction where appropriate. Throughout this process, you will maintain a customer-focused approach, helping to maximise rent collection while supporting residents to sustain their tenancies wherever possible.

About You

We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual with: 

• A Rent Recovery background and/or comprehensive knowledge of rent recovery processes and procedures for both secure council tenants and those in temporary accommodation.
• Experience of preparing and presenting housing possession cases at court (legal qualifications are not required but would be desirable for this role).
• A detailed understanding of the Pre-Action Protocol for Social Housing Claims and in-depth knowledge of relevant housing legislation, including welfare benefits, debt recovery and welfare reform.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Experience of casework and decision-making.
• Experience of building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external partners and agencies, supported by excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good understanding and practical knowledge of GDPR and associated legislation.
• Excellent IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle would be desirable to support the travel requirements of the role; however, this is not an essential requirement.

Our Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be customer-focused, work collaboratively as part of a team, and demonstrate the ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and partner agencies.

They will demonstrate stnong empathy and resilience, recognising that many cases can be complex and emotionally challenging. They will treat all customers with fairness, dignity and respect, ensuring that every interaction reflects the Council's values and commitment to excellent customer service.

We welcome applications from candidates with strong transferable skills and relevant experience, even if they have not worked directly within rent recovery, provided they can demonstrate the knowledge, behaviours and aptitude required for the role.

Full training and ongoing support will be provided to help the successful candidate develop and thrive in the role.

Above all, we are looking for someone with a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and a genuine commitment to delivering excellent outcomes for residents.

Job Description and Person Specification

To apply for this post please complete the online application form and attach your CV and a Covering Letter addressing how you meet the criteria for the role as stated in the person specification.

All short-listed applicants will need to demonstrate proof of right to work in the UK.

We are committed to employment practices that promote diversity and inclusion in employment and welcome applications from qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, colour, race, religion, or belief.