Housing Enforcement Officer

Contract length: initially 3 months,

Rate: Competitive

Hours: Hybrid 1-2 days on site, Full time

Our Clients in the East Midlands are looking for a Housing Enforcement Officer to :

• To improve housing conditions in the private sector – and effect a positive and sustained step change in the behaviour of landlords and letting agents – through advice,licensing, risk-based interventions and intelligence-led enforcement action. Including the
  optimum use of civil penalties, rent repayment orders and licensing fees to support intelligence-led approach to Housing Enforcement and maximise the impact in tackling criminal, rogue and irresponsible landlords.

• To provide an efficient, high quality advice, information and enforcement service for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in order to ensure that all HMOs are well managed, safe and habitable and that all licensable HMOs are licensed.

Responsibilities:

1. Undertake a range of activities including property inspections, HHSRS assessments, the drafting of schedules of work and the preparation and serving of notices, interviewing people under caution, executing warrants of entry and carrying out works in default and prepare cases for prosecution or the imposition of civil penalties to ensure the maintenance and improvement of standards across the Private Rented sector. Give evidence as necessary in the Tribunal and Courts Service.

2. Work collaboratively with the owners and managers of licensable HMOs to ensure that their properties are licensed, well managed, maintained in a good condition, meet the amenity standards and comply with the HMO Management Regulations.

3. Respond promptly, within agreed timescales, to complaints about serious disrepair and housing-related nuisance in the private sector and, through investigation, evaluate risks and hazards and determine the nature, cause, urgency and remedy of the problems.

4. Develop and maintain close working relations with a wide range of other services and organisations in order to facilitate the flow of information, encourage joint working and co-operation, achieve the prompt resolution of complex problems and ensure that, even when an input is required from a number of teams, service delivery is always well co-ordinated and the service user is kept fully informed of developments.

5. Work collaboratively and proactively with colleagues across the Team, and the wider Council ensuring delivery of coordinated services to tackle harassment and unlawful eviction, preventing homelessness, and ensuring that Council managed accommodation is compliant with Housing law.

Essential: 

Qualified Housing Enforcement Officer, with a relevant Degree; or proven relevant Private Sector Housing enforcement experience.

Experience of working in a team responsible for the regulation and enforcement of standards in private sector housing, and using risk based inspection programmes, utilising the full range of enforcement options.

Experience of the production of enforcement cases, including giving evidence in the First Tier Tribunal or Magistrates Court for housing related matters

Experience of operating an HMO Licensing Scheme, including processing licences under both Mandatory and Additional Licensing, undertaking property inspections and ensuring compliance with licence conditions and legislation requirements

Full driving licence and access to own transport for work purposes.

If you are interested, please email vanessa@buckinghamfutures.com alternatively you can call 020 8125 4321.