Empty Homes Co-ordinator

Oldham-Council; Oldham; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

LGPS pension scheme

Discounted gym membership

Staff discount scheme

Salary sacrifice for home/electronics

Cycle to Work

Wellbeing support

Staff recognition

Job summary

Oldham Council is seeking an Empty Homes Co-ordinator to develop and deliver the Council’s Empty Homes Strategy, using a range of powers and funding to bring vacant properties back into use.

You will work with owners, landlords and partners, manage a complex caseload, maintain the Empty Homes Database, and support investment programmes to increase long-term occupancy.

This permanent role offers 36.66 hours per week and a salary of £32,578–£35,570 per annum.

Qualifications

• Educated to A-Level standard, NVQ Level 4 or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Experience of managing a complex caseload and delivering outcomes against targets.
• Experience of investigating issues, gathering evidence and maintaining accurate records.
• Experience of managing projects, programmes or funded initiatives.
• The ability to write concise reports, prepare evidence and present information in a variety of forms including representations at Court, presentations to other Council Officers or external bodies.
• Detailed knowledge of Housing Acts and associated legislation (Town & Country Planning Act, Building Regulations, Environmental Protection Act & Building Act).
• Knowledge of HHSRS and its application in assessing housing conditions and associated risks.

Responsibilities

• To support the delivery of a professional and effective Empty Homes Service, helping to develop policy, procedures and operational mechanisms, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, guidance and best practice and maintaining effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• To trace, engage and communicate with owners, occupiers, executors, landlords and other relevant parties associated with empty properties to facilitate the return of properties to occupation.
• To support the Council's intervention and enforcement activity in relation to empty properties and coordinate activity with colleagues across Strategic Housing, Regeneration, Planning, Revenues and Benefits, Legal Services, Environmental Health and other relevant teams.
• Under the guidance of the Housing Strategy Manager, to investigate, prepare and progress enforcement and intervention activities in relation to empty properties, including but not limited to property auctions, EDMOs, Enforced Sale Procedures, CPOs and other statutory powers available to the Council.

Skills

Caseload management

Report writing

Housing legislation knowledge

Investigations

Education

A-Level or NVQ Level 4 equivalent

Job description

Communities

Strategic Housing

Empty Homes Co-ordinator

Ref: 001739

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £32,578 - £35,570 per annum (Grade 5)

Hours: 36.66 per week

Location: Spindles Shopping Centre

Closing Date: Friday 9 October 2026

Interview Date: TBC.

Role Overview

To contribute to the development, implementation and delivery of the Council’s Empty Homes Strategy and to bring empty homes into use through utilising a range of statutory powers and funding a range of statutory and voluntary provisions contained within the strategy and relevant funding programmes.

The postholder will work with property owners, executors, landlords, developers and partner organisations to bring empty homes back into use, helping to increase housing supply, improve neighbourhoods and support the Council's wider housing and regeneration objectives.

The postholder will manage a complex caseload of empty homes, maintain and develop the Council's Empty Homes Database, undertake property inspections and ownership investigations, and utilise a range of informal and formal interventions to secure positive outcomes. This will include providing advice, guidance and practical assistance to owners, as well as supporting enforcement action where voluntary solutions cannot be achieved.

In addition, the postholder will support the delivery of investment and intervention programmes designed to increase the number of long‑term empty homes returned to occupation. Working with funding provided through the Greater Manchester Empty Homes Programme and other opportunities that may arise, the postholder will identify suitable properties for intervention, develop solutions to overcome barriers to occupation, and support the effective use of financial assistance, refurbishment, leasing, acquisition and other initiatives that contribute to the re‑use of vacant homes.

Key Responsibilities

• To support the delivery of a professional and effective Empty Homes Service, helping to develop policy, procedures and operational mechanisms, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, guidance and best practice and maintaining effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• To trace, engage and communicate with owners, occupiers, executors, landlords and other relevant parties associated with empty properties to facilitate the return of properties to occupation.
• To support the Council's intervention and enforcement activity in relation to empty properties and coordinate activity with colleagues across Strategic Housing, Regeneration, Planning, Revenues and Benefits, Legal Services, Environmental Health and other relevant teams.
• Under the guidance of the Housing Strategy Manager, to investigate, prepare and progress enforcement and intervention activities in relation to empty properties, including but not limited to property auctions, Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs), Enforced Sale Procedures, Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) and other statutory powers available to the Council.

Key Requirements

• Educated to A-Level standard, NVQ Level 4 or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Experience of managing a complex caseload and delivering outcomes against targets.
• Experience of investigating issues, gathering evidence and maintaining accurate records.
• Experience of managing projects, programmes or funded initiatives.
• The ability to write concise reports, prepare evidence and present information in a variety of forms including representations at Court, presentations to other Council Officers, Elected Members or other external bodies.
• Detailed knowledge of pertinent Housing Acts and associated legislation (Town & Country Planning Act, Building Regulations, Environmental Protection Act & Building Act.)
• Knowledge of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and its application in assessing housing conditions and associated risks.

About Us

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact:

A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and Oldham Plan for further information.

Our Values and Behaviours

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out:

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following:

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to the link below for details for how to obtain your Certificates of Good Character. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer, someone who has served in the Armed Forces, or you’ve participated in the GM Elevate Programme, and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme.

Data and Privacy

For details of how we use your data please see our Privacy Notice

Important Information

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

Right to Work in the UK from 1st July 2021.doc