Job title: Property Visitor
Salary: B3 £25,584 - £27,269
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR
The Property Visitor plays a vital role in the city's financial health and community well-being. Their work directly impacts the efficiency of revenue collection, the fairness of property assessments, and the support provided to local businesses.
As a Property Visitor you’ll thrive on visiting and engaging with people, business and the wider Community.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Property Visitor you will bring to the role:
- Field Explorer: Enthusiastic about undertaking various visits related to the administration of Non Domestic Rates.
- Investigative Interviewer: Proficient in conducting thorough interviews and enquiries to uncover essential facts and circumstances for each case.
- Clear Communicator: Capable of crafting precise written communications to customers and agencies, addressing queries and gathering necessary information.
- Revenues Knowledge: Skilled in providing valuable advice to the public on liability, discounts, and reliefs for Non Domestic Rates.
- Versatile Team Player: Adaptable and ready to take on additional duties as required by the Revenues Management Team.
- Driving Experience: Has a full driving licence and use of own vehicle to undertake inspections.
About the role
The Property Visitor is an important role in the Business Rates team. Their work directly impacts the efficiency of revenue collection, the fairness of property assessments, and the support provided to local businesses.
By fostering trust and engagement, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring legal compliance, the Property Visitor contributes to the city's growth and prosperity. This role is essential in creating a vibrant, equitable, and thriving Leeds, where public services are well-funded, businesses flourish, and the community feels supported and valued.
**Must have a full driving licence and use of own vehicle to undertake inspections**
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Phil Mawson, Revenues Service Manager, 01133786724 or email Phil.Mawson@leeds.gov.uk
This position requires a Baseline Personal Security Standard check. A Basic Check will be carried out on preferred candidates
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose: To oversee inspection of properties, undertake complex inspections and other enquiries for the purpose of determining liability for Business Rates and, identifying new and altered business properties.
**Must have a full driving licence and use of own vehicle to undertake inspections**
Responsibilities
- To conduct visits as directed to unoccupied and occupied non-domestic properties in order to establish correct liability for Non-Domestic Rates and whether or not any discount, exemption, or relief may be applicable. To undertake any other visits and follow-up work relating to the administration of Non-Domestic Rates.
- To maintain an accurate and contemporaneous record of all visits undertaken to include mileage and any other statistical information as required.
- Dealing with telephone calls and emails from the public, outside agencies, and other council departments relating to Business Rates in line with the principles of good customer service and the Council’s objectives and Equal Access strategy.
- Resolving account queries and negotiating and monitoring payment arrangements with customers on the telephone, in emails, and at court hearings.
- Following work instructions/procedures to ensure that customers receive a consistently high standard of service.
- Assisting in the production of information for management reports.
- Accurately updating computerised databases.
- Assisting with training, supervision, and mentoring of clerical and newly appointed staff.
- Providing general assistance to clerical and senior officers throughout the Agency and the Council as a whole, including working towards performance standards and objectives.
- To abide by all policies, procedures, and strategies.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications: No specific qualifications are required for this role.
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
**Must have a full driving licence and use of own vehicle to undertake inspections**
- Able to respond to customer and other enquiries by telephone or face to face and in writing.
- Able to assess customers’ financial situations and ability to pay, and to negotiate appropriate payment arrangements.
- Able to deal calmly but firmly with challenging customers.
- Able to assist in the training & mentoring of staff.
- Able to make an effective contribution to a team.
- Good written and numerical skills
- An understanding of a Local Authority's functions and financing.
- A working knowledge of Local Taxation legislation including collection and recovery procedures.
- An understanding of the fundamentals of customer service.
- Experience of dealing with enquiries relating to a variety of people and organisations.
- Experience of general office work.
- Experience of operating PCs to input and access information accurately and effecting
alterations to a computer database.
- Experience of working to timescales and performance standards.
- Experience of resolving issues relating to billing and/or debt collection.
- Working as part of a team, contributing to team building and effective team working.
- Willing to abide by the Council’s Equality & Diversity policy and the Council’s Health and
Safety Policy in the duties of the post and as an employee of the Council
- A willingness to deal with sensitive and confidential information in accordance with the General
Data Protection Regulations
- A positive commitment to improving the efficiency and quality of services and to keep up to
date with legislative requirements
- Satisfactory outcomes to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) and Baseline Personnel
Security Standard checks and checks in relation to employment history, Identity and nationality
and immigration status.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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