Environmental Health Officer

Coventry City Council; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the West Midlands seeks a qualified Environmental Health Officer. The role involves inspecting Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), investigating complaints, and providing guidance to stakeholders. Candidates should have a degree in Environmental Health and strong knowledge of housing legislation. Flexible working is available, and applicants must hold a full UK driving license. Full training is provided for new graduates without experience.

Qualifications

• Strong grasp of housing and environmental health legislation.
• Commitment to fair, customer-focused public services.
• Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively.

Responsibilities

• Inspect premises and investigate complaints related to HMOs.
• Prepare reports and conduct evidence gathering for legal actions.
• Provide professional advice to landlords, agents, and tenants.

Skills

Housing and environmental health legislation

Investigative techniques

Reporting skills

Clear communication

Organisational skills

Education

Degree or Masters in Environmental Health

Job description

Environmental Health Officer

Salary: £39,152 - £46,142

Contract: Permanent – Full Time

Location: One Friar Gate, Station Square, Coventry , United Kingdom (Incl. Northern Ireland)

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

You’ll be joining Coventry’s Safer Housing and Communities service, working across our closely linked HMO Enforcement and HMO Licensing teams to improve standards in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

The HMO Licensing team delivers the mandatory and additional licensing schemes, including inspections to set licence conditions and investigations into non‑compliance, alongside education and advice through the Coventry Landlord Accreditation Scheme.

The HMO Enforcement team focuses on identifying and tackling unlicensed HMOs, poor housing conditions, and management practices, and also supports tenancy relations work to prevent illegal eviction and harassment—working with partners to address issues such as waste and associated anti‑social behaviour. We’re based at One Friargate and embrace flexible working practices.

What is the job role?

As an Environmental Health Officer, you will help ensure HMOs are safe, suitable and well‑managed by inspecting premises, investigating complaints, assessing risks and taking appropriate action where standards are not met.

You’ll provide professional advice and guidance to landlords, agents, tenants and other stakeholders, and you’ll contribute to a customer‑focused service by preparing reports and briefing notes, supporting colleagues and partners, and maintaining accurate records.

Where formal action is required, you’ll gather and present evidence, prepare case papers for Legal Services, attend court, and interview alleged offenders and witnesses under PACE.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for a qualified and motivated Environmental Health Officer with a strong grasp of housing and environmental health legislation, investigative techniques, and the law of evidence (including PACE), and a commitment to fair, customer‑focused public services. You’ll be able to communicate clearly and sensitively, write concise reports (including prosecution reports), and use influencing, negotiation and organisational skills to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines. You should be confident using IT systems, flexible in your approach, and able to work both independently and as part of a supportive team.

You must hold a Degree or Masters in Environmental Health from a UK CIEH‑accredited centre; a Certificate of Registration from the Environmental Health Officers Registration Board would be beneficial. The role involves visiting HMOs across the city, so you’ll need to travel within the Council’s area and hold a full UK driving licence, or work towards obtaining one. We also encourage applications from new graduates with no local authority experience—full training and support will be provided to help you develop in the role.

Closing date: 28 February 2026.