Allison Blunt
Letchworth Garden City ,Hertfordshire
Summary
A committed, experienced strategic leader with a positive attitude and drive to deliver high quality services and achieve consistent results. With strong organisational skills, problem solving and communication skills; adept at leading projects and company operations. Dedicated to being customer focused, professional and with a long, successful career in the housing sector.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
2025
2025
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Head of Tenancy Services
First Garden Cities Homes
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
07.2023 - 08.2025
- Contributed to strategic organisational leadership and delivery of objectives.
- Organisational management and leadership.
- Managed delivery of housing management, income recovery, tenancy support and sales services.
- Identified service challenges and developed proactive strategies.
- Promoted a truly resident-focused culture, embedding corporate values and continuous improvement.
- Led successful teams, fostering a positive work environment.
- Cultivated strong relationships with residents, internal teams, and key stakeholders.
- Identified opportunities to collaborate with residents.
- Managed substantial budgets for estate management services, rent collection and bad debt.
- Achieved significant improvements in service charge accuracy and profiling, enhancing transparency and recovery rates.
- Developed organisational strategies and ensured compliance with legal requirements.
Income Recovery Manager
First Garden Cities Homes (following merger)
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
03.2021 - 06.2023
- Howard Cottage Housing Association merged on 1/3/2020, becoming FGCH.
- Managed integration of systems for rent setting and income collection after merger.
- Uniformed tenancy agreements and communal estate services, engaging closely with residents.
- Delivered effective tenancy support service and introduced system of grant payments to assist with utility crisis.
- Successfully maintained high level of rent collection throughout COVID and economic crisis, within top quartile.
- Managed team of income recovery officers and tenancy support officers.
- Instructed finance team of new rents and service charges.
Housing Manager
Howard Cottage Housing Association
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
01.2008 - 03.2021
- Led a successful housing management team, achieving year-on-year performance improvement.
- Reduced net arrears from over 4% to consistently below 1%, reaching a low of 0.5%.
- Consistently achieved outstanding void performance.
- Increased shared ownership portfolio while meeting development appraisal sales target.
- Ensured high leaseholder satisfaction and compliance with Capital Funding Guide requirements.
- Measured resident satisfaction and developed action plans for continuous enhancement.
Housing Manager - temporary contract
Affinity Sutton Housing Association
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
09.2006 - 01.2008
Housing Officer - temporary contract
Riversmead Housing Association
Hertford , Herts
09.2005 - 07.2006
Housing Manager
North Hertfordshire District Council
Letchworth Garden City , Hertfordshire
06.2000 - 04.2003
Housing Department - various roles
Enfield Council
Enfield , Middx
01.1984 - 09.1999
- Housing Manager - Private Sector Leasing
- Housing Officer
- Housing Benefit Assessor
- Housing Administrator
Education
O Levels x 6 - Grades A - C
The Ambrose Fleming School
Institute of Housing Part 1 -
Tottenham College of Technology
GCSE - Law
Enfield College
Level 5 Diploma in Housing -
Institute of Housing
Skills
- Resourcefulness
- Problem-solving
- Staff management
- Team building and leadership
- Staff training and development
- Strategic planning
- Passion for social housing and doing the best for residents
- Understanding of challenges faced by residents
- Customer service skills
- Identifying service improvement needs
- Corporate leadership
- Skilled at writing policy and procedures and promoting adherence
- Social housing law and best practice expertise
- Complaint management and conflict resolution
- Interpersonal communication
- Relationship building with external stakeholders
- Attention to detail
- Analytical skills
Personal Information
Nationality:
Custom
/1989,/1987,/1982
Affiliations
- Running, keeping fit, gardening, DIY, reading, crafting.
Timeline
Head of Tenancy Services
First Garden Cities Homes
07.2023 - 08.2025
Income Recovery Manager
First Garden Cities Homes (following merger)
03.2021 - 06.2023
Housing Manager
Howard Cottage Housing Association
01.2008 - 03.2021
Housing Manager - temporary contract
Affinity Sutton Housing Association
09.2006 - 01.2008
Housing Officer - temporary contract
Riversmead Housing Association
09.2005 - 07.2006
Housing Manager
North Hertfordshire District Council
06.2000 - 04.2003
Housing Department - various roles
Enfield Council
01.1984 - 09.1999
GCSE - Law
Enfield College
O Levels x 6 - Grades A - C
The Ambrose Fleming School
Institute of Housing Part 1 -
Tottenham College of Technology
Level 5 Diploma in Housing -
Institute of Housing
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