Private Sector Housing Officer

ROLE PURPOSE:

Part of a team of professional officers to provide an efficient, high quality service private sector housing service that reacts quickly to all enquiries, service request and complaints. To assess the nature, extent and urgency of the enquiry and make effective use of advice, risk based interventions and enforcement action, including civil penalties, to improve housing conditions and ensure that all homes in the private sector are safe and habitable.

To assess housing conditions and management in private sector housing, give advice and take action as necessary, including enforcement action to ensure that living conditions and management standards are brought up to satisfactory standards.

To process applications for property licences, including inspection of housing conditions and assessment of management standards and to take enforcement action in respect of licensing requirements, non-compliance with housing conditions, housing management and other related defects.

1. QUALIFICATIONS

Educated to degree or diploma level in a relevant area, or equivalent and relevant operational experience.

Formally trained in investigation skills and techniques or equivalent relevant operational experience.

Post graduate qualification or similar in a relevant technical area.

Sound practical and theoretical knowledge sufficient to carry out the duties of Private Sector Housing Officer.

2. STATUTORY or ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Willingness and ability to work outside core working hours according to need (for example to attend meetings in the evenings or at weekends or to carry out site visits and monitoring activity during anti social hours).

UK driving licence or equivalent, and the use of a suitable vehicle at all times.

Ability to undertake site visits and inspections at various locations throughout the borough.

3. EXPERIENCE

Broad experience of using environmental health and housing legislation to enforce and raise standards in private sector housing.

Experience of making presentations and briefings to management, other colleagues within the Council and/or external stakeholders

Experience of acting as a witness on behalf of an employer and/or appearing in court or at an inquiry to give evidence and be questioned as a witness.

4. KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Sound practical and theoretical knowledge of Housing and PSH legislation and practice.

Ability to investigate and research breaches of legislation, including preparing statutory notices, reports,letters etc

Ability to prepare evidence and reports for enforcement action such as formal cautions, civil penalties, prosecutions etc.

Ability to prioritise work and to work under pressure, meeting expectations and deadlines.

Well developed verbal, written communication and customer care skills and able to produce accurate reports and correspondence to a high standard.

Education:

• Diploma of Higher Education (preferred)

Experience:

• public sector: 2 years (required)
• social housing: 2 years (required)
• environmental health and housing legislation: 2 years (required)
• Private Sector Housing Officer: 2 years (required)

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