About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough
About the job
Salary: £7.55 a hour
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Apprenticeship
Kickstart your career in housing advice and homelessness prevention!
Join our team as a Housing Solutions Advisor (Apprenticeship) and play a key role in delivering high-quality housing options advice, helping to fulfil our statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and Housing Act 1996. You’ll work directly with individuals—by phone and in person—to prevent homelessness wherever possible, or support them in finding suitable accommodation in either the private or social housing sectors.
In this hands-on apprenticeship, you’ll assist in assessing cases promptly, referring to specialist teams when duties are triggered, and helping to create and maintain personalised housing plans. You’ll gain valuable experience in tenancy law, possession proceedings, harassment and illegal eviction cases, disrepair issues, and tenancy sustainment, ensuring you can offer the best housing solutions and advice.
You’ll also support a range of vital administrative tasks, including rent deposit applications, financial assessments, and referrals to hostels, all while working towards your Housing and Property Management Level 3 Apprenticeship and a Chartered Institute of Housing qualification. Applicants must have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA, Switzerland, or EU overseas territories for at least the past three years.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
Bring your people skills and problem-solving abilities to a role where you can make a real difference.
We’re looking for a confident communicator who can engage with the public in fluent, accurate English—whether face-to-face, over the phone, or in writing. You’ll be able to plan and prioritise your own workload, manage complex cases, and work with clients and families who have multiple needs, using tact and resilience to overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes.
You’ll need excellent written skills, a clear telephone manner, and the ability to quickly understand and explain complex information in an accessible way. Strong organisational skills are essential, as you’ll be recording accurate case notes, producing documentation, and managing case files efficiently.
We value calm professionalism when dealing with challenging situations, and you’ll be adept at empowering individuals to take steps towards resolving their housing issues. Good numerical skills will help you carry out affordability assessments and recommend financial support, while your ICT skills will support your use of case management systems and other digital tools.
An understanding of equality legislation and the ability to apply policies in service delivery is important, alongside knowledge of relevant housing legislation and procedures. You’ll hold Functional Skills Level 2 or GCSEs (Grade C/4 or above) in English and Maths—or be willing to complete them during your apprenticeship. A flexible, proactive approach, the ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and the willingness to travel between sites are all essential.
To be eligible, applicants must have resided in the EEA, Switzerland, Gibraltar or the UK for at least the previous 3 years before the start of the apprenticeship.
This is a public facing role so you’ll need to show off your fluency in speaking and writing English
If you’re ready to start your career helping people find safe and secure housing, we’d love to hear from you—apply today and make a difference from day one.
Application process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.
Benefits
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons including access to discounts on top UK retailers and local retailers
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
How to apply
We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply