Private Sector Housing Manager – AR

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Council's Private Sector Housing team seeks an experienced Private Sector Housing Manager to lead enforcement, licensing and standards across the private rented and owner-occupied sectors.

The post holder will provide strategic and operational leadership, overseeing housing health and safety inspections, licensing schemes, and policy implementation to improve housing standards and tenant outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience working within private sector housing, housing enforcement or housing standards.
• Strong knowledge of Housing Act 2004, HHSRS, HMO and selective licensing, housing enforcement powers, private rented sector regulation.
• Experience managing complex enforcement cases including civil penalties, prosecutions, Rent Repayment Orders and landlord compliance issues.
• Experience leading and managing teams within a local authority or regulatory environment.
• Understanding of investigation procedures, evidence gathering and legal processes.
• Experience producing reports and presenting information to senior managers or elected members.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Private Sector Housing team, ensuring enforcement, licensing and housing standards delivery.
• Manage staff performance, development and training to create a skilled, resilient service.
• Set objectives, monitor performance and implement improvements where required.
• Support operational and strategic development of the service in line with Council priorities.
• Manage resources including budgets, staffing and temporary resource.
• Oversee complex investigations into poor housing conditions, illegal landlords and housing offences.
• Ensure enforcement activity is legally compliant, evidence-based and follows procedures.
• Lead delivery and expansion of housing licensing schemes (mandatory, additional, selective).
• Develop policies, procedures and service standards; implement Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
• Build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and report to senior management.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Housing legislation

Housing enforcement

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Job description

Job Description – Private Sector Housing Manager

Role: Private Sector Housing Manager
Department: Housing – Private Sector Housing
Reports to: Assistant Director of Housing Standards

Role Purpose

To lead and manage the Council’s Private Sector Housing service, ensuring the delivery of effective enforcement, licensing, regulatory and policy functions across the private rented and owner-occupied housing sector.

The post holder will be responsible for improving housing conditions, protecting residents, tackling poor landlord practices and ensuring compliance with statutory duties under the Housing Act 2004, HHSRS, licensing legislation and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

The role will provide strategic and operational leadership to the Private Sector Housing team, ensuring high-quality, customer-focused services that deliver improved housing standards, effective enforcement action and value for money.

Key Responsibilities

Service Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, manage and develop the Private Sector Housing team, ensuring effective delivery of enforcement, licensing and housing standards functions.
• Manage staff performance, development and training to create a skilled, resilient and high-performing service.
• Set clear objectives, monitor performance and implement improvements where required.
• Support the operational and strategic development of the service in line with Council priorities.
• Manage resources effectively, including budgets, staffing requirements and temporary resource.

Housing Enforcement & Regulatory Services

• Lead statutory private sector housing functions including:
  • Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) inspections
  • Housing Act 2004 enforcement activity
  • Improvement and prohibition notices
  • Licensing schemes
  • Empty property interventions
  • Property standards inspections
• Oversee complex investigations into poor housing conditions, illegal landlords and housing offences.
• Manage preparation of cases for:
  • Civil Financial Penalties
  • Prosecutions
  • Rent Repayment Orders
  • Landlord banning orders
  • Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings
• Ensure enforcement activity is legally compliant, evidence-based and follows appropriate investigation procedures.

Licensing & Private Rented Sector Management

• Lead the delivery and expansion of private sector housing licensing schemes, including mandatory, additional and selective licensing.
• Ensure robust systems, processes and resources are in place to manage increased licensing activity.
• Monitor landlord compliance and identify areas of risk within the private rented sector.
• Develop strategies to improve housing standards and tenant outcomes.

Policy, Legislation & Strategic Advice

• Provide expert advice to senior officers and elected members on private sector housing matters.
• Develop and review policies, procedures and service standards.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing legislation, regulatory guidance and best practice.
• Support implementation of new legislation, including changes introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
• Prepare reports, briefings and performance information for senior management.

Partnership Working

• Build effective working relationships with internal and external partners, including:
  • Legal Services
  • Planning
  • Building Control
  • Fire Service
  • Police
  • Health partners
  • Other local authorities and housing organisations
• Ensure effective referrals, information sharing and joint working on complex housing issues.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and monitor performance frameworks, KPIs and quality assurance processes.
• Analyse service data and intelligence to identify risks, trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Drive service transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure services are efficient, customer-focused and deliver positive outcomes for residents.

Essential Experience & Knowledge

Candidates should have:

• Significant experience working within private sector housing, housing enforcement or housing standards.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Housing Act 2004
  • HHSRS
  • HMO and selective licensing
  • Housing enforcement powers
  • Private rented sector regulation
• Experience managing complex enforcement cases, including:
  • Civil penalties
  • Prosecutions
  • Rent Repayment Orders
  • Landlord compliance issues
• Experience leading and managing teams within a local authority or regulatory environment.
• Understanding of investigation procedures, evidence gathering and legal processes.
• Experience producing reports and presenting information to senior managers or elected members.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Ability to manage complex workloads within a high-demand environment.
• Excellent knowledge of housing legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to improve services.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to make evidence-based decisions on complex and sensitive cases.
• Strong organisational skills with experience managing competing priorities.
• Commitment to improving housing standards and resident outcomes.

Suitable Backgrounds

Ideal candidates will come from:

• Private Sector Housing Management
• Housing Enforcement
• Housing Standards
• Environmental Health (Housing)
• Regulatory Housing Services

Relevant job titles:

• Private Sector Housing Manager
• Housing Enforcement Manager
• Housing Standards Manager
• Housing Regulatory Services Manager
• Principal Environmental Health Officer (Housing)
• Private Sector Housing Lead Officer