Housing Enforcement Officer

West Northamptonshire Council; Northampton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

West Northamptonshire Council is seeking an experienced Housing Enforcement Officer to join our Private Sector Housing Team. You will inspect rented properties using HHSRS, identify hazards and breaches, and take enforcement action to raise standards.

You will prepare notices, support civil penalties or prosecutions, and present cases at tribunals when required. Strong written and investigative skills are essential, with collaboration across partners including Police and HMRC.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in Private Sector Housing regulation.
• HHSRS competency qualification required.
• Strong knowledge of Housing Act 2004 and enforcement powers.
• Experience with Tribunal or Magistrates' Court proceedings.
• Excellent communication, investigation and report-writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Investigate poor housing conditions, management failures and unlicensed properties.
• Prepare and serve statutory notices, orders and enforcement actions.
• Develop cases for civil penalties, prosecutions and tribunal proceedings.
• Prepare witness statements and evidence bundles; represent the Council in tribunals.
• Collaborate with Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Immigration Enforcement and HMRC.

Skills

Excellent communication

Investigation skills

Report-writing skills

Stakeholder liaison

Education

Degree in Environmental Health or related subject

HHSRS competency qualification

Job description

About the role

Are you an experienced Housing Enforcement professional looking for a role where your expertise is valued, your judgement is trusted, and your work delivers tangible outcomes for residents?

West Northamptonshire Council is seeking a motivated and ambitious Housing Enforcement Officer to join our high-performing Private Sector Housing Team. Following a recent service transformation, we are operating as one integrated team with a strong focus on improving housing standards, safeguarding vulnerable residents, tackling rogue landlords, and driving compliance across the private rented sector.

Our officers are trusted to take decisive action to tackle poor housing conditions, bring unlicensed properties into compliance, and hold rogue landlords and criminal operators to account. This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive, high-performing service where enforcement is valued, professional judgement is respected, and staff are supported to develop their expertise across the full range of private sector housing functions

What will you be doing?

You will undertake inspections of rented properties using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), identifying hazards, breaches of housing legislation and management standards, and taking appropriate enforcement action.

Working across a varied and challenging caseload, you will:

• Investigate poor housing conditions, management failures and unlicensed properties.
• Prepare and serve statutory notices, orders and formal enforcement actions.
• Develop cases for civil penalties, prosecutions and tribunal proceedings.
• Prepare witness statements and evidence bundles and represent the Council in the First-tier Tribunal where required.
• Work alongside partners including the Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Immigration Enforcement and HMRC to protect residents and tackle criminal and irresponsible practices.

No two days are the same. You will be trusted to manage your own caseload while being supported by experienced managers and colleagues who are passionate about delivering high-quality regulation and enforcement.

About you

We are looking for officers who want to do more than inspect properties.

We want professionals who are confident using the full range of housing enforcement powers, who are passionate about protecting residents, and who are motivated by achieving meaningful outcomes in the private rented sector.

You will have:

• A degree in Environmental Health or a related subject, or significant equivalent experience in Private Sector Housing regulation.
• A recognised HHSRS competency qualification.
• Strong knowledge of the Housing Act 2004, HHSRS and local authority enforcement powers.
• Significant experience of housing enforcement, including preparing cases through to Tribunal or Magistrates' Court.
• Excellent communication, investigation and report-writing skills.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential as the role involves travel across West Northamptonshire.