Housing Enforcement Lead

Opus People Solutions Limited; Newcastle-under-Lyme; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Opus People Solutions Limited is recruiting for a Housing Enforcement Lead for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. The role is 37 hours per week with hybrid working (2 days from home) and £50 per hour umbrella, for a 6-month contract.

The post involves leadership of the Housing & Vulnerability team, oversight of HHSRS, HMO Licensing, and related housing enforcement activities, with a focus on improving housing standards and homelessness prevention across the borough.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within Private Sector Housing Enforcement and Housing Standards.
• Strong knowledge of HHSRS, HMO Licensing, housing enforcement powers and relevant housing legislation.
• Experience implementing and enforcing landlord and tenant regulatory requirements, including Renters' Rights legislation.
• Experience leading housing, environmental health or regulatory services teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the Housing & Vulnerability Business Manager with day-to-day operation of the Housing & Vulnerability team.
• Provide leadership across Private Sector Housing, Renters' Rights Enforcement and Housing Strategy services.
• Lead on workstreams including HHSRS, HMO Licensing, Fire Safety in High-Rise, Asylum Accommodation and Public Health in Housing.
• Manage and resolve complex housing enforcement, regulatory and compliance cases.
• Support homelessness prevention, temporary accommodation and affordable housing initiatives.
• Develop officers through training, coaching and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Housing enforcement

HHSRS

HMO Licensing

Fire Safety

Public Health in Housing

Homelessness prevention

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Report writing

Job description

Opus People Solutions are hiring for a Housing Enforcement Lead on behalf of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.

The role is 37 hours per week, offering hybrid working (2 days working from home per week), and £50 per hour umbrella, with a contract length of 6 months.

Please see a high-level overview of what the position involves below:

• Supporting the Housing & Vulnerability Business Manager with the day-to-day operational management of the Housing & Vulnerability team
• Providing functional leadership across Private Sector Housing, Renters' Rights Enforcement and Housing Strategy services
• Leading on key workstreams including HHSRS, HMO Licensing, Fire Safety in High-Rise Dwellings, Asylum Accommodation and Public Health in Housing
• Managing and resolving complex housing enforcement, regulatory and compliance cases
• Supporting the delivery of homelessness prevention, temporary accommodation, supported accommodation and affordable housing initiatives
• Developing and mentoring officers through training, coaching and knowledge sharing to ensure high standards of service delivery
• Monitoring performance, supporting continuous service improvement and helping to drive transformational change across the service
• Managing complaints, appeals and case escalations, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policies and procedures
• Assisting with the preparation of reports, witness statements, enforcement documentation and committee reports where required
• Supporting funding bids, externally funded projects and partnership working to improve housing outcomes across the borough

The ideal candidate will have experience with:

• Significant experience within Private Sector Housing Enforcement and Housing Standards
• Strong working knowledge of HHSRS, HMO Licensing, housing enforcement powers and relevant housing legislation
• Experience implementing and enforcing landlord and tenant regulatory requirements, including Renters' Rights legislation
• Managing, supervising or leading housing, environmental health or regulatory services teams
• Investigating complex and contentious cases and overseeing enforcement action where necessary
• Preparing legal documentation, evidence and reports to support enforcement activity
• Housing Strategy, Homelessness, Temporary Accommodation, Supported Accommodation or Affordable Housing services
• Membership of CIEH, CIH or an equivalent professional body, or relevant Environmental Health qualification/experience
• Previous experience within Local Government

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced housing professional to take a lead role within a busy local authority service, helping shape housing enforcement activity while supporting service improvement and the development of staff.

All offers will be subject to satisfactory compliance screening, including right to work in the UK and references.