Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives?
Do you want to be part of a caring, supportive, and dedicated team?
We’re looking for a Housing Administrator to join our supported living and housing services based in Surrey.
This is a varied and rewarding opportunity where your organisation, communication, and people skills will directly support tenants, families, professionals, and care teams — helping services run smoothly and compliantly.
As a Housing Administrator, you’ll:
- Act as the first point of contact — answering phones, emails, and welcoming tenants, families, and professionals.
- Provide housing administration support, including maintaining tenancy records, start and end dates, and issuing tenancy agreements (including easy-read versions).
- Support families and tenants with housing benefit applications, exempt accommodation claims, and related queries.
- Liaise with external agencies such as local authorities, housing benefit teams, and Universal Credit to resolve housing and benefit issues.
- Take and coordinate maintenance queries for Surrey projects and Ashdown, ensuring clear communication with families and tenants.
- Support compliance with data collection requirements for CQC, Capacity Tracker, and commissioning authorities.
- Assist with audits, KPI collation, and performance reporting.
- Support property management and projects teams with document control to meet SCC, WSCC, and Hampshire contract requirements.
- Book meetings, reviews, and professional visits, and provide hospitality when required.
- Order PPE, stationery, and supplies, and support events and social activities.
- Manage the social club and safely oversee the secure handling of client bank cards in line with policy.
- At least two years’ experience in an administrative role within housing, supported living, care, or a related environment.
- Knowledge of housing management processes, tenancy administration, and compliance requirements.
- Experience supporting benefit applications or liaising with external agencies (desirable).
- Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Confident communication skills, both written and verbal, with a warm and professional approach.
- The ability to produce accessible documentation, including easy-read materials.
- A calm, empathetic, and non-judgemental approach when supporting tenants and families.
The ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively as part of a team.
A commitment to confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, and inclusion.
About The Organisation
Field Lane is a charity with a long history of providing care, housing, and support for a diverse range of people, including:
• Adults with learning disabilities, many of whom are also autistic.
• Vulnerable families, including those experiencing homelessness.
• Individuals who need additional support to remain in their homes or with their families.
We actively champion improved rights, services, and opportunities for people with autism and learning disabilities, and we are proud to provide inclusive, compassionate support that helps people live fulfilling lives.
Why Join Us?
• Be part of a warm, inclusive, and supportive organisation.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• A varied role where no two days are the same.
• The chance to make a real difference in people’s lives every day.
• Competitive pay and benefits package.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About us
The Merchant Taylors’ Company dates from 1327, when it was formed as a social and religious organisation for tailors and linen-armourers dedicated to St John the Baptist. Today, it is a flourishing Livery Company whose members are dedicated to education, fraternity, and philanthropy.
Members play active roles in philanthropy through volunteering their time, skills, and donations to empower charities local to the Company's key areas of work and support through governance and volunteering opportunities a number of affiliated schools across the United Kingdom as well as to exceptional individual students.
Fraternity and community are rooted in the Company’s ancient beginnings, when members worked together in order to take care of one another in poor health, old age and through unstable economic times.
About Merchant Taylors’ Boones Charity (MTBC)
MTBC is a charitable arm of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, with a vision to be a long term provider of high quality almshouses in the Borough of Lewisham that improves lives across the generations.
Almshouse dwellings for ‘low needs’ young people affected by homeless – this Youth Almshouses project is at the business planning phase, with the accommodation due to open in a few years’ time. The current proposal is that MTBC will build the accommodation and an experienced Partner Charity will manage it under a lease.
Independent living almshouse flats for people aged 57+ in financial need: Christopher Boone’s Court - MTBC has 34 flats in this luxurious new development, leased from One Housing Group. The remaining flats are owned by One Housing Group’s private tenants in the same age range.
About the role
Reports to: The Head of Philanthropy
Direct reports: None
Places of work: The Hall (Bank, London), Christopher Boone’s Court (South London).
Travel: Some travel may be required within Greater London in connection with various aspects of the role. Occasional travel may be required within the UK, primarily in connection with the Youth Almshouses project.
Key collaborative relationships within Merchant Taylors’: Youth Almshouses Project Group, Company Surveyor, Membership and Communications Team, Finance Team
Overview of role:
The postholder leads the development of policy on issues such as independent living and financial subsidy to make a positive difference to the lives of older people in financial hardship at our site in Lewisham. The postholder manages operations at that site, with an emphasis on efficient systems.
The postholder is part of the small team responsible for developing our project to house young people, being versatile about the tasks they undertake to bring this complex and exciting project to fruition.
The postholder is the lead staff member reporting to the Housing and Care Committee on the resident-related issues in our provision of almshouse accommodation. The post holder leads on fulfilling MTBC’s obligations to regulatory bodies such as the Charity Commission and Regulator of Social Housing.
Responsibilities and Duties
Youth Almshouses project: planning phase
[This phase has already started. There is a separate section of this Job Description relating to once construction has finished, estimated to be 2028]
Contributes to all aspects of the planning phase of the Youth Almshouses project and building relationships with key third parties. Non-exhaustive examples of milestones due in this phase for the project team to which this role belongs are:
o Agreeing appropriate business model and site design with the Partner Charity
o Conclusive professional advice on all aspects
o Concluding legal agreements with the Partner Charity
o Any regulatory issues concluded
o Planning permission granted
o Publicity
o Contracts in place with all parties relevant to construction
Management of the charity
- Presents information to assist decision-making, for example written reports and analysis of financial data for the trustees
- Manages MTBC’s affairs at Christopher Boone’s Court
Finance, Legal and Governance
- Leads on all financial matters affecting our residents at Christopher Boone’s Court.
- Completes annual returns to regulatory bodies
- Contributes to business continuity plan, review of relevant policies, preparation of MTBC’s annual report and accounts, budgeting cycle and monitoring performance against budget.
- Ensures that MTBC is up to date in complying with regulatory regimes of the Charity Commission, Regulator of Social Housing, the Housing Ombudsman and any other relevant regulatory bodies.
Data Protection
Promotes a ‘data protection by design’ approach to ensure that MTBC is compliant with data protection principles.
Policy, Development and Improvement
- Leads policy development on independent living, financial subsidy of residents, and any other relevant policy issues relating to residents of Christopher Boone’s Court or the planned youth accommodation.
- Keeps up to date with regulatory changes and best practice learning relevant to almshouse charities which are Registered Providers of Social Housing
- Drives forward change to reflect that learning, for the benefit of MTBC.
- Seeks appropriate specialist advice.
Information Technology and Residents
Encourages and develops the use and availability of technology to make residents at Christopher Boone’s Court confident with accessing online services.
Communications
Writes communications about MTBC and its activities for a wide variety of stakeholders.
Property Management
Arranges any repairs/maintenance at Christopher Boone’s Court which are MTBC’s responsibility.
Monitors whether One Housing Group and MTBC’s tenant at Archbishop Coggan House are carrying out all tests required by statute or lease obligations. Reports non-compliance and any unsatisfactory test results to the Company Surveyor’s team.
Assists the Company Surveyor’s team in arrangements for long term planned maintenance at the Youth Almshouses.
MTBC residents at Christopher Boone’s Court
- Leads strategy and implements all communications, arrangements and process to ensure MTBC’s almshouse flats are occupied
- Establishes an efficient system for monitoring residents’ ability to live independently
- Leads on operating all policies relating to residents’ behaviour (eg Anti-Social Behaviour)
- Drives forward and resolves ‘pastoral’ cases with a proportionate approach
- Assists in dealing with safeguarding cases in accordance with protocols
- Leads on ending individual residents’ rights to live at Christopher Boone’s Court, through the appropriate internal and court processes, including instructing lawyers.
- Ensures that an ARC concessionary TV licence is in force for MTBC residents at Christopher Boone’s Court.
- Organises traditional annual events involving the Merchant Taylors’ Company.
Relationships with third parties
Christopher Boone’s Court:
- Ensures that One Housing Group and any other relationship partners meet agreed performance levels/contractual responsibilities to MTBC.
- Works proactively with One Housing Group to promote a cohesive, empowered community of residents at Christopher Boone’s Court, ensuring as far as reasonably possible that there is a common and consistent approach to MTBC and non-MTBC residents, and common opportunities for them.
Youth Almshouses after construction has finished (est. 2028):
- Acts as the key point of contact between the Partner Charity managing the accommodation, Merchant Taylors’ and its Client Project Manager, leading on operational issues.
- Notifies all construction latent defects to MTBC’s Client Project Manager.
- Leads on the Partner Charity’s performance level against the lease and service agreement.
- Assists as required in procuring periodic renewal and/or re-negotiation of lease and service agreement between MTBC and the Partner Charity, or a new lease and agreement with a replacement Partner Charity
Essential (skills, experience, qualifications)
- Educated to degree level
- Interest in economic/social policy issues relevant to the types of people eligible to live at the proposed youth almshouses and Christopher Boone’s Court.
- Able to take responsibility while maintaining good communication and accountability
- Proactive with a problem-solving aptitude
- A fast learner who’s able to interpret complex information
- Good commercial awareness and financial understanding
- Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills
- Always reviewing and looking at ways to improve existing processes
- Good IT skills
Desirable
CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit your CV and cover letter.
Please don’t use generative AI.
Your cover letter should explain why you think you are a good fit for this role.
Please submit your CV and cover letter.
Please don’t use generative AI.
Your cover letter should explain why you think you are a good fit for this role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.