Hiring and Sponsoring Housing officers (SOC Code 3223)

Housing Officers, classified under SOC Code 3223, are vital professionals in the management and oversight of rented properties. Their role encompasses a broad range of responsibilities to ensure that tenants have a secure and well-maintained living environment. Key duties include:

• Overseeing daily operations: Ensures the smooth running of rented properties, including the arrangement of leases, collection of rent, and coordination of maintenance work.
• Tenant engagement: Interviews prospective tenants and allocates properties to those on waiting lists, prioritizing the needs of applicants.
• Property inspections: Conducts regular inspections to assess the condition of properties, ensuring they are well-maintained and in good repair.
• Adaptation for special needs: Ensures that accommodation for special needs is suitable for specific groups, such as the elderly and disabled, and that all statutory requirements are met.
• Welfare support: Refers tenants to appropriate sources of benefits and welfare assistance, helping them navigate available resources.
• Rent management: Handles the payment of rents and arrears, including arranging legal action when necessary to recover outstanding amounts.
• Tenant support: Engages with and supports tenants’ groups to promote community cohesion and address issues affecting residents.
• Collaboration with agencies: Works closely with social services and welfare rights groups to provide holistic support for tenants and enhance their overall living conditions.

With an increasing demand for affordable housing and effective property management in the UK, housing officers play a crucial role in the housing sector, making it essential for HR professionals to understand their significance within the immigration framework as they seek skilled candidates to fill these important positions.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Housing officers?

SOC Code 3223 refers to housing officers responsible for the oversight and management of rented properties. Their responsibilities can include:

• Day-to-day property management: Overseeing the operational aspects of rented properties, including leasing agreements, rent collection, and maintenance coordination.
• Tenant interviews: Conducting interviews with prospective tenants to evaluate suitability and allocating properties to applicants on waiting lists.
• Property inspections: Performing regular inspections to assess property conditions and ensure they are well-maintained.
• Accommodation suitability: Ensuring that housing options are appropriate for specific groups, such as the elderly and disabled, while complying with statutory requirements.
• Benefit referrals: Assisting tenants by connecting them to relevant sources of benefits and welfare services.
• Rent management: Handling rent payments, arrears, and initiating legal action if necessary for unresolved payment issues.
• Tenant support: Providing support and resources to tenant groups to enhance community engagement.
• Collaboration with agencies: Working closely with social services departments and welfare rights groups to address tenants' needs and improve housing outcomes.

Housing officers play an essential role in ensuring that housing needs are met, fostering community well-being, and promoting social equity within the rental housing sector.

Eligibility to Hire Housing officers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Housing officers must exhibit strong interpersonal skills, organizational abilities, and a comprehensive understanding of housing regulations to effectively manage rented properties. The following qualifications and experience criteria are expected: 

• Educational Background: A degree in housing management, social work, public administration, or a related field is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience: Proven experience in property management or a similar role, demonstrating the ability to interact with tenants and manage housing services effectively.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to liaise with tenants, external agencies, and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Regulations: Familiarity with housing laws, tenant rights, and welfare benefits to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
• Organizational Skills: Strong ability to coordinate property inspections, maintenance work, and lease agreements efficiently.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Capability to handle tenant disputes and arrears, with a proactive approach to resolving issues amicably.
• Collaboration Experience: Experience working with social services, welfare rights groups, and tenant associations to provide comprehensive support.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 3223 and that the housing officer's experience and capabilities meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Housing officers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Housing officers under SOC Code 3223.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Housing officers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Housing officers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Housing officers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Housing officers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Housing officers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Housing officers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Housing officers

Before the Housing officers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Housing officers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Housing officers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Housing officers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Housing officers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Housing officerss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Housing officers

Sponsoring Housing officers under SOC Code 3223 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Housing officers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Housing officers under SOC Code 3223 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.