Empty Homes Officer- EE08426

Walsall Council; Walsall; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 24 days + Bank Holidays

Pension scheme

Flexible working

Training and progression

Job summary

Walsall Council is seeking an Empty Homes Officer to help bring long-term empty properties back into use across the borough. The role focuses on using enforcement tools, including Compulsory Purchase Orders, to improve housing supply and neighbourhood wellbeing.

You will work with property owners, residents and partners to inspect properties, negotiate solutions, maintain records and support appropriate enforcement actions while managing a caseload and adapting to service needs.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in housing, building or construction, or substantial housing enforcement experience.
• HHSRS certification or valid training.
• Knowledge of private sector housing legislation and enforcement.
• Experience conducting property inspections and empty homes investigations.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with enforcement action and notices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and meticulous records.
• Ability to collaborate with partners and stakeholders.
• Valid UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Identify practical solutions to return empty homes to occupation.
• Carry out property visits and investigate ownership and condition.
• Provide advice and negotiate with owners to bring properties back.
• Maintain accurate records and support enforcement actions.
• Manage a caseload and work with partners to deliver outcomes.

Skills

Housing enforcement experience

HHSRS training

Private sector housing law

Property inspections

Negotiation

Enforcement action

Communication skills

Record keeping

Stakeholder engagement

Driving licence

Education

Degree in housing/building/construction

Job description

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.

Closing date: 15th September 2026

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole – particularly your ‘Supporting Information’ – reflects your own voice.