Empty Homes Officer- EE08426

WMJobs; Walsall; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional membership fees

Smart working

24 days annual leave + Bank Holidays

Flexi time

LGPS pension

Salary sacrifice scheme

Training and progression opportunities

Job summary

Walsall Council is seeking an Empty Homes Officer to help bring long-term vacant properties back into use within the borough. The role focuses on enforcement, visits, ownership checks and negotiations with owners to reduce empty homes and improve neighbourhood conditions.

The successful candidate will manage a caseload, work with partners and use CPOs where necessary, reporting clearly and maintaining records.

Qualifications

• Relevant housing, building or construction qualification at degree or equivalent level, or significant previous experience in a similar local authority housing enforcement role.
• HHSRS certification or evidence of relevant HHSRS training.
• Knowledge of private sector housing legislation and empty homes enforcement.
• Experience of property inspections and empty homes investigations.
• Ability to negotiate, problem-solve and manage challenging situations.
• Experience of enforcement action, formal notices and evidence preparation.
• Strong communication, record keeping and report writing skills.
• Ability to work with partners and stakeholders to deliver outcomes.
• Relevant housing, building or construction qualification, or equivalent experience.
• A valid UK Driving Licence is essential.

Responsibilities

• Carry out property visits, investigate ownership and property condition, provide advice and negotiate with owners.
• Maintain accurate records and support appropriate enforcement action where required.
• Work with owners, residents, internal services and external partners to identify practical solutions to return empty homes to occupation.
• Manage caseload independently and contribute to positive community outcomes by reducing empty homes.

Skills

Housing qualification

HHSRS certification

Private sector housing knowledge

Property inspections

Negotiation skills

Enforcement action

Record keeping

Stakeholder engagement

Driving license

Education

Housing/Construction degree

Job description

Walsall Council, Empty Homes Officer - Ref: EE08426

Grade: G7 (£35,412 - £38,220)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Term: 2 year fixed term contract

Our Service & Main Purpose of the Role

Our Housing & Customer Engagement Service area covers a wide remit including Private sector team, homelessness and housing options, asylum seeker and refugee, Gypsy and Roma Traveller, affordable housing and policy. We are looking for a proactive and confident Empty Homes Officer to help bring long-term empty properties across the borough back into use. This is an important role helping to improve housing supply, neighbourhood conditions and community wellbeing.

We have Cabinet approval to bring a number of identified long term problematic empty properties into use including by way of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) where agreement cannot be reached for the property to be otherwise returned to use imminently. There is therefore a focus for this role to continue with our successful approach of the use of CPOs.

The successful candidate will work directly with property owners, residents, internal services and external partners to identify practical solutions for returning empty homes to occupation. This will include carrying out property visits, investigating ownership and property condition, providing advice, negotiating with owners, maintaining accurate records and supporting appropriate enforcement action where required.

This is a varied and rewarding opportunity for someone who can work independently, manage a caseload, handle challenging situations professionally and contribute to positive outcomes for local communities by helping to reduce the number of empty homes in the borough.

Key Requirements Of The Role

• Relevant housing, building or construction qualification at degree or equivalent level, or significant previous experience in a similar local authority housing enforcement role.
• HHSRS certification or evidence of relevant HHSRS training.
• Knowledge of private sector housing legislation and empty homes enforcement.
• Experience of property inspections and empty homes investigations.
• Ability to negotiate, problem-solve and manage challenging situations.
• Experience of enforcement action, formal notices and evidence preparation.
• Strong communication, record keeping and report writing skills.
• Ability to work with partners and stakeholders to deliver outcomes.
• Relevant housing, building or construction qualification, or equivalent experience.
• A valid UK Driving Licence is essential.

Our offer to the successful candidates

• We will pay your applicable professional annual membership fees
• You will be part of a forward thinking and supportive team
• Smart working - you will work in ways that gets the best outcomes
• Generous Annual Leave Entitlement (24 days holiday per annum + Bank Holidays)
• Flexi time - being able to accrue up to 3 additional flexi leave days in a 13 week period
• An attractive Local Government Pension Scheme
• An opportunity to join a savings salary sacrifice scheme
• Training and progression opportunities dependent on your qualification and performance

This post is based on working from home, visiting site and from the office depending on the needs of the service

You will be joining a friendly team committed to providing safe and healthy housing. At Walsall we embrace teamwork and personal development, and you will have the opportunity to develop your skills.

For further information about this role, please contact Carol Jones (Manager - Housing Standards) via email; [e-mail]

Closing date: 15 th September 2026