Private Sector Housing Enforcement Officer

Park Avenue Recruitment; Lenham; Hybrid; GBP 62,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Park Avenue Recruitment is seeking an experienced Private Sector Housing Officer (HMO Licensing) in Kent on a hybrid 6‑month contract. The role focuses on delivering HMO licensing work, inspections and enforcement in a busy housing standards team.

You will process licence applications, conduct inspections, assess compliance and help reduce backlogs while providing guidance to landlords and tenants. Hybrid work with 3 onsite days.

Qualifications

• HMO licensing and compliance experience.
• Ability to perform property inspections and risk assessments.
• Experience in enforcement and serving statutory notices.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation.
• Experience in a local authority private sector housing team.

Responsibilities

• Processing HMO licence applications.
• Undertaking HMO and housing standards inspections.
• Assessing compliance with HMO licensing requirements.
• Investigating housing complaints within the private rented sector.
• Conducting HHSRS inspections and hazard assessments.
• Serving statutory notices where appropriate.
• Managing housing enforcement caseloads.
• Providing advice and guidance to landlords, agents and tenants.
• Maintaining accurate records and case management systems.
• Supporting wider private sector housing initiatives and enforcement projects.
• Assisting with the reduction of existing HMO licensing backlogs.

Skills

HMO licensing

HMO inspections

HHSRS assessments

Housing Act 2004

Housing standards enforcement

Job description

Private Sector Housing Officer (HMO Licensing)

Kent | £45-£50 per hour | Hybrid Working (3 Days Onsite)

Location: Kent

Rate: £45-£50 per hour

Contract: Initial 6-Month Contract

Working Arrangement: Hybrid - 3 Days Onsite, 2 Days Remote

A Kent local authority is seeking an experienced Private Sector Housing Officer to join its Housing Standards team and help tackle a significant HMO Licensing backlog.

This is an excellent opportunity for an officer with strong experience in HMO licensing, housing inspections and private sector housing enforcement to make an immediate impact within a busy regulatory service. The successful candidate will play a key role in reducing application backlogs, improving compliance and supporting the council's wider private rented sector objectives.

The Role

The successful candidate will support the delivery of the authority's HMO licensing function, managing a caseload of licence applications, undertaking inspections and ensuring compliance with relevant housing legislation.

Alongside licensing work, you will have the opportunity to support wider housing standards and enforcement activities across the private rented sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Processing HMO licence applications.
• Undertaking HMO and housing standards inspections.
• Assessing compliance with HMO licensing requirements.
• Investigating housing complaints within the private rented sector.
• Conducting HHSRS inspections and hazard assessments.
• Serving statutory notices where appropriate.
• Managing housing enforcement cases from initial complaint through to resolution.
• Providing advice and guidance to landlords, agents and tenants.
• Maintaining accurate records and case management systems
• Supporting wider private sector housing initiatives and enforcement projects.
• Assisting with the reduction of existing HMO licensing backlogs.

Candidate Requirements

• HMO licensing and compliance.
• HMO inspections.
• HHSRS assessments.
• Housing Act 2004.
• Private Sector Housing Enforcement.
• Housing standards investigations.
• Serving statutory notices.
• Managing housing enforcement caseloads.
• Working within a local authority private sector housing team.

Desirable Experience

• Additional licensing schemes.
• Selective licensing.
• Civil penalties.
• Prosecution case preparation.
• Court or tribunal attendance.
• Licensing enforcement.
• Empty homes work.
• PACE interviews.

About You

• Demonstrate strong technical knowledge of housing legislation.
• Manage housing and licensing cases independently.
• Conduct thorough and confident property inspections.
• Communicate effectively with landlords, tenants and managing agents.
• Prioritise a busy workload and meet performance targets.
• Apply appropriate informal and formal enforcement options.
• Maintain robust evidential standards and record keeping.

What's on Offer?

• This role offers the chance to join a supportive local authority team and make a genuine impact on housing standards within the borough.
• £45-£50 per hour
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Three days onsite attendance
• Initial six-month contract
• Potential for extension
• Opportunity to lead on reducing an HMO licensing backlog
• Varied caseload across licensing, housing standards and enforcement
• Supportive management team
• Immediate start available