Home Ownership Recovery Officer - Harlow District Council
Essex
Role
Home Ownership Recovery Officer Location: Harlow Full time, Temporary Up to 6 months* £17.16 - £17.78 per hour Closing Date: Monday 18th August 2025 Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Harlow Council to recruit a Home Ownership Recovery Officer on a full-time, temporary contract of up to 6 months. Please note that due to the nature of this role, you will be required to work on-site, 3 days per week increasing to 4 in January 2026. Harlow is a district of contrasts and an ideal location to both live and work. The town itself is thriving, with excellent shopping and leisure facilities for all ages. We have good road links to the M11 and M25 and excellent rail connections to London and Stansted Airport, just 35 minutes and 20 minutes away from Harlow respectively. Job Purpose: The Council is committed to the highest level of customer care and service delivery. The post holder will work within the Home Ownership Team. They will be responsible for all undisputed or undefended leasehold service charge recovery including debt management duties and managing Council loans to leaseholders in accordance with the Council’s agreed policies and working practices, delivering a first class housing service that is value for money and customer focused. The Role: Working in our busy Homeownership Team, you will assist the Senior Recovery Officer in a wide range of tasks including the collection of service charges for both annual charges and major works, recovery of unpaid Annual service charges and major works, the administration of service charge loans and any work supporting these functions. You will need to be available to work or attend meetings outside of normal working hours. A driving licence and access to a car or other satisfactory means of transport is required for this post. To be responsible for key areas dealing with all aspects of leasehold service charge recovery and commencement of Legal action for undisputed service charge debt. This will include annual service charges, major works current and former leasehold debt recovery. The post holder will be the principal point of contact for the leaseholder in respect of debt related issues and undefended service charge debt recovery ensuring all leaseholders are given help and support in making their tenure sustainable. Ensure that the issuing of invoices, demands for payment and requests for direct debits are carried out in line with Statute and the Councils policies and procedures. Investigate and commence appropriate action in relation to lease breaches limited to non-payment of ground rent and service charges in line with current policies procedures and housing law. To discuss with the Senior Recovery Officer as appropriate any unusual, complex or sensitive cases at an early stage. Ensuring at all times vulnerable leaseholders are given access to support and help in sustaining their leases. Adopt the Council’s “can’t pay won’t pay” ethos and deal effectively with those leaseholders who choose not to pay whilst supporting those who leaseholders who can’t. To liaise with relevant staff within the Home Ownership Team, Property Surveyors and other service providers to resolve disputes regarding non-payment of service charge due to unsatisfactory service delivery. To ensure that comprehensive, up-to-date, clear, easily accessible, written notes and documentation are maintained on individual cases and where appropriate electronic records are updated and maintained ensuring compliance with GDPR. To maintain up-to-date statistical information as required. To be responsible for the commencement of claims in respect of undisputed service charge debt (including non payment of ground rent) and to recommend cases for instruction to the Council’s legal team for further appropriate legal action for defended claims. What you should do next If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website. If you have any queries relating to this post please email Ashleigh.Drake@essex.gov.uk