Private Sector Housing Officer

Job Description: Housing Standards Officer

Job Purpose:

Raising housing standards through advice, advocacy, and enforcement in the private sector. To assist the Team Leader to deliver and promote excellent services to the local residents as required.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Conduct HHSRS inspections.
2. Perform HMO licensing inspections.
3. Maintain good knowledge of relevant legislation and enforcement actions.
4. Experience in caravan site licensing is advantageous.
5. Conduct inspections, investigations, and surveys of private sector properties to identify their condition with reference to all relevant legislation, standards, and guidance.
6. Prepare specifications and schedules of repair work and assess the progress and quality of such works.
7. Resolve complaints related to private sector housing matters, including disrepair, HHSRS hazards, overcrowding, harassment, illegal eviction, HMO licensing, empty properties, accreditation, and immigration inspections in accordance with statutory provisions and council policy.
8. Advise the Team Leader on contraventions and commence appropriate enforcement actions, including preparation and service of legal notices, statements, attending court, and providing evidence as a representative of the council.
9. Liaise with other council units (e.g., Benefits, Building Control, Planning, Housing Solutions, Nuisance Team), landlords, contractors, ward councilors, the Fire Authority, and other outside organizations to achieve improvements in the condition/management of the private sector housing stock.
10. Deliver proactive initiatives such as forums and specialist working groups aimed at landlords, students, and other private tenants, including giving talks/presentations and general advice on private housing problems.
11. Lead and deliver activities in accordance with service objectives on joint initiatives and provide operational support to the senior officer in relation to specialist areas.

Work Environment:

This role is designated as Hybrid: Workers spend the majority of their time on site or on client visits. They will work in a specified Council office between site visits and may also work from home on an occasional or more frequent basis. Many services and customers span across the Borough, and therefore you may be required to work at any location. Mainly office-based but some scope to work from home on occasions.