Housing Enforcement Officer

4Recruitment Services Ltd; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

4Recruitment Services Ltd is seeking a Housing Enforcement Officer for West Northamptonshire Council's Private Sector Housing Services. The role is hybrid, with 2-3 days in the office, and involves enforcing housing standards, inspecting properties, and ensuring HMOs are licensed and compliant.

The role requires strong HHSRS competency, experience in enforcement, and a full UK driving licence. Collaboration with multiple council teams will be essential to reduce overcrowding and improve private

Qualifications

• Current HHSRS competency.
• Recent and substantial experience carrying out housing inspections and enforcement activity.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation with proven enforcement experience.
• Hands-on experience issuing Civil Financial Penalties under Housing Act 2004.

Responsibilities

• Undertake property inspections and HHSRS assessments; draft schedules of work and notices.
• Collaborate with owners/managers of licensable HMOs to ensure licensing and compliance.
• Respond to disrepair and nuisance complaints; assess risks and remedies.

Skills

HHSRS competency

Housing inspections

Enforcement powers

Civil penalties

Driving licence

HMO licensing

Job description

4Recruitment Services are seeking a Housing Enforcement Officer.

The role sits within Private Sector Housing Services, part of the Housing and Communities Directorate in West Northamptonshire Council. The role is hybrid 2-3 days in the office.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Undertake a range of activities including property inspections, HHSRS assessments, the drafting of schedules of work and the preparation and serving of notices, interviewing people under caution, executing warrants of entry and carrying out works in default and prepare cases for prosecution or the imposition of civil penalties to ensure the maintenance and improvement of standards across the Private Rented sector.
• Work collaboratively with the owners and managers of licensable HMOs to ensure that their properties are licensed, well managed, maintained in a good condition, meet the amenity standards and comply with the HMO Management Regulations
• Respond promptly, within agreed timescales, to complaints about serious disrepair and housing- related nuisance in the private sector and, through investigation, evaluate risks and hazards and determine the nature, cause, urgency and remedy of the problems.
• Work collaboratively and proactively with colleagues across the Team, and the wider Council ensuring delivery of coordinated services to tackle harassment and unlawful eviction, preventing homelessness, and ensuring that Council managed accommodation is compliant with Housing law.
• Work proactively with Planning, Revenues & Benefits, Housing Options & Advice, the Anti Social Behaviour Team, Trading Standards, the Police, Immigration, the Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service and other services to identify and target those HMOs that should be licenced but are not, and those non-licensable HMOs that need an urgent inspection because it is suspected that they are severely overcrowded, in a very poor state of repair and/or pose a very high risk to the occupants and their visitors.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and co-ordination of new working practices and initiatives that tackle overcrowding, reduce the number of licensable HMOs operating without a licence and improve private sector housing conditions.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Current HHSRS competency
• Recent and substantial experience carrying out housing inspections and enforcement activity
• Strong working knowledge of housing legislation with proven experience applying enforcement powers
• Proven experience issuing Civil Financial Penalties under the Housing Act 2004 (candidates must be able to demonstrate hands-on experience taking action and issuing penalties, not just an understanding of the legislation)
• Ability to hit the ground running with minimal training or supervision
• Full UK driving license and access to own transport for business use.
• Desirable Experience: First Tier Property Tribunal experience, including preparing case files and/or representing cases at hearings

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.