Job Introduction
We’re recruiting for a Housing Allocations Officer to join our Housing Allocations Service for a 12-month maternity cover.
Our team helps residents understand and navigate Milton Keynes City Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme so people can access safe, affordable homes.
As an Allocations Officer, you’ll have a busy and varied workload that will involve assessing applicants for the housing register, and the allocation and letting of social housing properties, ensuring our processes are fair, transparent and efficient.
You’ll play a key role in maintaining the housing register, minimising periods that houses are empty, and making sure customers are satisfied.
You’ll work closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver a joined-up approach to meet local people’s needs.
If you care about making a positive impact in the social housing sector, this could be the role for you.
This is a site-based role
Interviews for this role will be held on 13 April
Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk
Main Responsibility
- Provide clear advice to residents on the Housing Allocations Scheme and assessing applications to determine eligibility, qualification, and priority.
- Allocate social and affordable rented homes in line with legislation, policy, procedures, and local allocation schemes.
- Manage the full end‑to‑end allocations process, including checks, offers, refusals, documentation, tenancy terminations and void management.
- Maintain consistent communication with applicants, offering additional support to vulnerable households.
- Working proactively with Registered Providers to process nominations within agreed timescales and support decants, downsizing and exceptional housing decisions.
- Collaborating closely with internal teams, social services, Registered Providers, and external partners to ensure an efficient and customer‑focused allocations service.
The Ideal Candidate
- This is the role for you if you’re dedicated, respectful and collaborative — values that guide how we work at Milton Keynes City Council.
- Demonstrate knowledge of housing legislation such as the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), the Children Act 1989 and related regulations.
- Five GCSEs grade A to C including English, or equivalent.
- Ideally holds a Chartered Institute of Housing qualification or equivalent professional experience.
- Communicates clearly with a range of people, adapting their approach to achieve positive outcomes.
- Can manage a varied caseload, prioritise well and meet deadlines.
- Confident using IT systems, Word and Excel.
- If you are offered the role, we will carry out a Basic DBS check and BPSS referencing as part of the pre-employment process.
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes
Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.
