As a Housing Partner at Abri, no two days are ever the same — which is one of the reasons I love what I do.
One day I might be inspecting a property, the next I could be doing a community walkabout, checking out reports of anti-social behaviour, supporting a tenancy ending, or meeting someone for a viewing.
I also carry out monthly community inspections in each patch I cover. If something doesn’t seem right, I’ll speak to a customer or raise a job to get it sorted. It’s all part of making sure our neighbourhoods are safe and well looked after.
Sometimes, if I’m in the area, I’ll also take the opportunity to door-knock a customer I’ve been supporting — especially if there’s an outstanding repair or issue they’ve been dealing with. It’s a small gesture, but checking in face-to-face can really help build trust and reassure them that we’re on it.
Then there are admin days. These are when I focus on the things that just can’t be done out in the field — like processing tenancy changes, investigating succession claims, or working on funding applications.
What It’s like working in rural areas
It’s Rural Housing Week, and with my patch covering some pretty rural areas, I wanted to share the unique challenges and opportunities this presents.
Challenges
- As you’d expect, signal can be patchy, which isn’t ideal when you rely on mobile and digital tools
- There’s also more customer isolation and limited public transport, which can make it harder for people to access support
- In smaller villages, private homeowners tend to raise concerns more quickly and expect swift action — especially compared to urban areas.
This is why it’s so important to stay well connected with local support networks, — like village agents, PCSOs, and community groups, — so we can offer customers the right help, even if we can’t provide it directly.
Positives
- The smaller communities tend to be close knit and there's a real community feel – this often means it’s easier to investigate issues with hard-to-reach customers as usually a neighbour has information
- Community resources are often well established and things like parish councils or village agents are really helpful
- It's just really nice to work in, with a lot of beautiful areas.
Why I love working in housing
What I love most about being a Housing Partner is working with our customers. Every day brings a new challenge, and no two situations are ever the same. I genuinely enjoy problem-solving, and there’s real satisfaction in helping someone find a solution that makes their life better. It’s a role that really suits me — and one I’m proud to do.
By Joe Roberts, Housing Partner for South West