Job Description:

Job Title: Private Sector Housing Officer - Interim

Location: Central East London
Rate: £22.24 - £27.05 per hour (PAYE) / £29.97 - £36.45 per hour (Umbrella)
Contract Type: Interim (3 months)
Working Pattern: Hybrid (2 days in office)

About the Role:
We are seeking a Private Sector Housing Officer to provide a service to the Private Housing Sector that makes a real difference to residents' lives by ensuring conditions and management in private residential accommodation are of a satisfactory standard. You will assess housing conditions and management in the private rented sector, give advice, and take enforcement action as necessary, as well as process property licence applications and grants to enable disabled residents to remain living independently in their homes.

Key Responsibilities:

Housing Conditions:

• Investigate service requests and carry out programmed inspections under the Housing Act 2004, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Housing and Planning Act 2016, and Renters' Rights Act 2025.
• Assess housing conditions under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 (HHSRS) and take appropriate enforcement action, including drafting schedules of works, notices, and orders.

Property Licensing:

• Provide advice and guidance on compliance with property licensing schemes and statutory obligations.
• Process property licence applications, including inspecting housing conditions, assessing management standards, and recommending approval or refusal.
• Monitor and assess compliance with licence conditions, including in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Enforcement:

• Correspond with landlords and managing agents to achieve compliance, taking enforcement action using relevant delegated powers.
• Prepare prosecution cases, issue Simple Cautions and Financial Penalty Notices, and prepare Rent Repayment Order applications to the first tier tribunal.
• Attend Court and tribunal hearings as a witness for the prosecution.

Housing Grants:

• Deliver a range of financial support to vulnerable residents, including Disabled Facilities Grants.
• Scrutinise schedules of works, tenders, and estimates to ensure value for money.

Service Delivery:

• Maintain comprehensive casework records in the service's IT database.
• Deliver a consistently high standard of work across a demanding caseload.
• Respond to correspondence and customer contact in line with service standards.
• Work collaboratively with other teams and cover the work of other officers as necessary.
• Occasionally work outside standard office hours for targeted enforcement activity.

Requirements:

• Degree or Diploma in Environmental Health (or equivalent housing-related qualification).
• A recognised HHSRS assessor training course.
• Experience of inspection, enforcement, and/or grant work in private sector housing (in a local authority context, at a level appropriate to grade).
• Sound practical and theoretical knowledge of private sector housing legislation.
• Ability to prepare statutory notices, evidence, and reports for enforcement action.
• Excellent written communication skills and ability to deal with enquiries and complaints.
• IT literate, with the ability to use Windows or Google-based systems and databases.
• Able to prioritise, work to performance standards and deadlines, and manage a demanding caseload.

If this role aligns with your experience, please send an updated copy of your CV to Sean Cloherty at Elevate Projects so we can discuss further.