This one from Genesis Housing group, which appeared recently in the London press, tells us quite a bit. The bits in capitals are my emphasis.

Rent Recovery Officers
£22,052 starting salary with potential rise to £25,951 pa
Often the most successful entities have two sides to them. A ROSE COMES WITH ITS THORNS.
Genesis Housing provides affordable housing across north-west and Central London. The service we deliver enables people to live in quality housing. However, to do this successfully we have to STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A STEADY FLOW OF INCOME TO CONTINUE OUR INVESTMENT. Our rent recovery officers work to achieve this.
TO RAIS THAT MONEY, HOWEVER, HARD DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE. Decsisions that require a special range of qualities- FROM EMPATHY TO TENACITY. Its not a job for everyone. But it could be for you.
As one of our TEAM PLAYERS, you'll inform tenenats that they are in arrears, visiting them and / or interviewing them over the telephone to negotiate a repayment plan that suits both parties. In the course of this, you'll often need to provide sound housing benefit and welfare advice for which training will be provided. Far less frequently, when there is no other option, YOULL NEED TO START POSSESSION PROCEEDINGS.
At the moment you could be anywhere. CREDIT CONTROL, a BANK or building society, a LETTINGS AGENCY. Or you may just have graduated. Whatever you're doing, some things are certain; youll be METHODICAL, and good with numbers, but also people-orientated , UNAFRAID OF MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS AND- more importantly, given HOW FAST OUR INDUSTRY IS GROWING- AMBITIOUS.

[Contact details ommitted]

From their own words, this housing group states that the 'service' they provide is in fact a tough, money- based, ambitious, expansionist INDUSTRY. If you are curently living on a rundown council estate and are under pressure to sign away your tenancy to some regeneration scheme Dont do it. The above speaks for itself.