Environmental Health Officer/Senior EHO - Private Sector Housing

Reading Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England is seeking a qualified Environmental Health Officer to join their Private Sector Housing Team. The role involves conducting inspections, advising landlords, and ensuring compliance with housing regulations. The successful candidate will enjoy a supportive work environment, flexible working options, and a generous holiday entitlement. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about improving housing conditions within the community and contributing to public welfare.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Qualifications

• Effective communication with colleagues and the public.
• Knowledge of regulatory environments related to housing.
• Possession of a valid driving license.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections and investigations of housing conditions.
• Advise landlords on compliance with licensing schemes.
• Process HMO licence applications and resolve housing complaints.

Skills

Communication skills

Knowledge of Private Rented Sector

Driving licence

Education

EHRB/Register of Environmental Health Practitioners Registration

Job description

We are seeking a qualified Environmental Health Officer to join our Private Sector Housing Team and contribute in protecting the quality of life of our residents. This is an exciting time to join the team, as we have just made a designation to introduce additional licensing and with further selective licensing schemes planned. This recognizes the importance of good housing and the key role the private sector landlords play in this, to help build thriving communities.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

About the role:

Experience in dealing with tall building fire safety and/or licensing of houses in multiple occupation and discretionary licensing schemes is desirable.

Please note the qualifications requirements for this post, new professionals completing their studies may be eligible to apply to the Graduate EHO payscale, see job description for further details on pay progression.

We have a vacancy for an Environmental Health Officer within our Private Sector Housing Team. You will be based at our Civic Offices in the centre of Reading but will spend significant time out of the office on inspections and there is flexibility to work from home, subject to the needs of the service.

Private Sector Housing – As an urban area we are challenged a high proportion of rented properties including licensable house in multiple occupation (hmos), many of which are in poor condition.

The successful candidate will carry out inspections and investigations looking at housing conditions across the borough. Primarily this will be linked to compliance with the hmo licensing schemes, as well as dealing with housing complaints and providing assistance and advice to tenants and landlords.

Depending on experience we are also looking for candidates who could contribute to our work relating to tall building fire safety and find new ways to deliver services in the private rented sector as well.

The successful candidate will spend significant time on inspections, advising landlords on legal requirements and on the consultation process and on processing hmo licence applications. You will work with partners both internally and externally to administer the scheme and improve property conditions for our residents.

There will be the requirement for some work outside of normal office hours, and you will need a flexible approach to your work. There is also a possibility to assist on an out of hours noise rota (there is additional payment for working on the out of hours noise rota).

About you:

• EHRB/Register of Environmental Health Practitioners Registration
• You should be able to communicate effectively with colleagues, members of the public and other agencies, both verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of the Private Rented Sector and/or a regulatory environment.
• Possession of a current driving licence.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Values and Behaviours:

• Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
• Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
• Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
• Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer:

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

• Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees
• Season Ticket Loan – a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Stuart Taylor – Principal Environmental Health Officer – [e-mail]

Closing Date: Sunday 4th January 2026

Interview Date: TBC

Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Reading