Customer Rent Account Manager

Location:
Kent (ME14)
Salary:
£36,745.94 + benefits
Employment Type:
Permanent
Hours per Week:
36.25
Grade:
5
Closing Date:
21 August 2026

At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That's someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK's leading Social Enterprise we're dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.

So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!

More about your role

As a Customer Rent Account Manager, you'll be the first point of contact for our customers, delivering a professional telephone-based service while managing a designated portfolio of rent and service charge accounts. You'll play a key role in maximising income collection, supporting customers to sustain their tenancies and helping to reduce arrears through proactive account management.

This is a varied role that combines home working with time spent attending court hearings, carrying out customer visits and engaging directly with customers across your designated area. You'll work closely with customers to agree affordable repayment arrangements, provide advice and guidance on welfare benefits and income maximisation, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and internal processes.

You'll prepare legal documentation, attend court hearings and confidently represent the business in possession and debt recovery cases where required. You'll manage both current and former customer accounts, work towards income collection targets, and support customers to reduce debt while maintaining sustainable tenancies. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation, you'll contribute to excellent customer outcomes while supporting the overall performance of the income management service. No two days are the same, making this an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys balancing customer contact, case management, legal work and field-based activity.

Essential criteria

Proven experience of income collection, rent arrears management or debt recovery within the housing sector.
Up-to-date knowledge of welfare benefits and income maximisation.
Housing industry experience, ideally within a housing association, local authority or social housing environment.
Knowledge of legal and court procedures relating to rent arrears, including experience preparing and presenting cases at court.
Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle for business travel.

More about you

You're an experienced housing professional with a strong background in income recovery and customer account management. You understand the challenges customers can face and have the knowledge and confidence to support them through effective payment arrangements, income maximisation and welfare benefit advice.

You'll have experience managing rent arrears cases from early intervention through to legal action, with a sound understanding of housing legislation and court processes. Comfortable working independently from home, attending court hearings and carrying out customer visits, you'll be highly organised and able to effectively manage a varied caseload.

Benefits

We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.

We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:

• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
• Bonus scheme for colleagues at 2%
• 35 days holiday (including bank holidays) with the option to buy or sell days
• Healthcare cashback plan for everyday medical costs, with private GP and health support services available
• Comprehensive wellbeing support including counselling, flu jabs, our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and access to our Wellbeing Hub, supporting your mental, physical and financial wellbeing
• Access to Our Place Rewards, offering discounts and savings on groceries, travel, shopping, home products and other lifestyle purchases
• Ongoing training, professional qualifications, internal development programmes and career progression opportunities
• Recognition programmes including Star Awards and Colleague Awards, celebrating achievements and recognising great work
• Strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and colleague engagement
• Free membership to Places Gyms
• Life Assurance to provide financial security for your loved ones, alongside access to will writing services to help you plan for the future with confidence

What's next?

If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then apply following our simple 5 minute application process, upload a CV and a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the role. If you have any questions please email the recruitment team recruitment@placesforpeople.co.uk

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a guaranteed interview to candidates who are disabled, neurodiverse, or have served in the Armed Forces, provided you meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in your application.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview experience, please let us know. We're happy to work with you to ensure you have the opportunity to perform at your best.

If you are a Places for People customer and you're looking for support with your application, please contact our skills and employment team on skillsemployment@placesforpeople.co.uk.

Please note that we may bring the closing date forward, if we receive a large number of quality applications. If you are interested in this role we would advise applying immediately to avoid disappointment.

If you are using a mobile device such as an iPad then ensure your CV is stored in the cloud, we currently support Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox.

We understand the importance of a supportive and inclusive work culture so please talk to us at interview about flexibility you may need. We can't promise to give you exactly what you want, but we promise not to judge you for asking. For this role we are open to discussing the possibility of reduced hours, flexible start and finish times or compressed hours.

If you are a recruitment agency please note we operate a PSL and do not take cold calls

Safeguarding

At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.

We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.

By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities

Armed Forces - We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant. Places for People will guarantee an interview for any candidate who is serving or has formerly served in the Armed Forces, as a reservist, armed forces veteran (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructor and military spouse/partner and who meets the essential criteria for the vacancy.

Disability Confident - We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme certified as Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. This helps us to successfully employ and retain people with disabilities and health conditions. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a vacancy will be guaranteed an interview. The Equality Act 2010 (Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for NI) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has sa substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to do daily activities.

Neurodivergent – Neurodiverse individuals have highly valuable skills, and we recognise that a traditional interview process sometimes works against them and doesn’t allow them to self-advocate. Neurodiverse applicants who meet the criteria for a vacancy will be guaranteed an interview.