Job Description

Leasehold Officer / Service Charge Officer

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: North Yorkshire Council

Service Area: Housing / Income Services

Hours: 37 hours per week

Start Date: 06 July 2026

End Date: 12 October 2026

Assignment Length: 3 months initially, with a view to extend

Working Pattern

Hybrid working. Office attendance required 2-3 days per week initially.

Location

Client location: District Council Office, Rotary Way, Northallerton, DL6 2UU.

Richmond, Harrogate or Selby office can be used as the base.

Pay

£17.85 per hour

Job Overview

North Yorkshire Council is seeking an experienced Leasehold Officer / Service Charge Officer to support the Housing Income Services team.

The role will focus on the management of leaseholder accounts, service charges, shared ownership charges, income collection and arrears recovery. The successful candidate will manage a caseload of leasehold accounts, support customers in financial difficulty, negotiate payment plans, maximise income collection and take appropriate recovery action where required.

This role requires strong experience in social housing, leasehold or service charge account management, housing arrears recovery, customer contact, financial hardship support and working with vulnerable customers.

Important - Please Read Carefully

This is a specialist leasehold, service charge and housing income recovery role.

Candidates must have experience of housing management within a social housing environment, debt recovery, housing arrears or leasehold/service charge account management.

Candidates without social housing, leasehold, service charge, arrears recovery or housing income experience are unlikely to be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of leasehold accounts
• Manage service charges and shared ownership charges
• Carry out account management and income collection activity
• Undertake arrears intervention and preventative action
• Maintain accurate customer account records and case notes
• Negotiate realistic payment plans
• Identify welfare benefit, Housing Benefit, DHP and Council Tax reduction entitlements
• Support customers with Universal Credit and Housing Benefit issues
• Enforce payment of housing charges where lease terms have been breached
• Progress cases through legal processes where required
• Serve notices and court documentation where required
• Submit unpaid housing charge and debt recovery cases to County Court
• Take electronic payments and handle payment information securely
• Set up and amend direct debit instructions
• Recover recharged repairs, support charge accounts and former debts
• Liaise with Homeless Prevention, Housing Management and external agencies
• Maintain accurate records in line with GDPR and information governance requirements

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience of housing management within a social housing environment
• Experience of leaseholder account management, service charges or housing income management
• Experience of debt recovery, housing arrears recovery or enforcement
• Experience working with vulnerable customers in financial hardship
• Experience delivering customer-focused services
• Awareness of housing legislation and landlord responsibilities
• Understanding of leaseholder obligations
• Experience working with other agencies
• Awareness of Information Governance and Data Protection principles
• Safeguarding awareness
• Strong numeracy, English and computer literacy skills
• Ability to explain policies and procedures clearly
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Qualifications

Essential: Educated to GCSE level standard or equivalent, with minimum Grade C or equivalent in Maths and English.

Desirable

• Housing-related qualification, such as NVQ Level 3 or above
• Working knowledge of welfare benefits
• Mediation or conflict management experience
• Experience using CX, NEC Housing or other housing management software
• Understanding of court protocol and court attendance
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for business use

Additional Information

The role is office based with hybrid working arrangements available.

Candidates must be able to attend the office 2-3 days per week initially.

Richmond, Harrogate or Selby office can be used as the base.

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.

RQ