Private Sector Housing Officer (Grants and Adaptations)

Ashford Borough Council; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary linked pension

Generous annual leave with flexi time

Free life insurance

Relocation package for specific roles

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

Ashford Borough Council is seeking a skilled housing grants officer to help deliver Disabled Facilities Grants, adaptions and private sector housing schemes. You will assess needs, inspect properties, and work with residents, occupational therapists, contractors and partners to improve independence and housing standards.

The role requires post‑qualification experience in private sector housing or environmental health, a relevant degree, strong communication and IT skills, and a commitment to

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Building Surveying or related discipline.
• Experience delivering Disabled Facilities Grants and housing programmes.
• Knowledge of residential construction and building defects.
• Experience working with residents, landlords and contractors.
• Strong investigative, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and complex cases with professionalism and empathy.
• Strong IT skills and maintaining accurate records.
• HHSRS qualification and professional body membership would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Inspect residential properties to assess repair, improvement and adaptation needs.
• Work with residents, occupational therapists, contractors, landlords and partners.
• Facilitate adaptations that improve accessibility and independence for vulnerable households.
• Investigate housing conditions complaints and identify solutions.
• Assess building defects, review specifications and monitor works.
• Promote energy efficiency initiatives and low-carbon housing improvements.
• Support work to tackle empty homes and improve housing standards.
• Prepare reports, maintain case records and provide professional advice to stakeholders.

Skills

Communication

Customer Service

IT skills

Analytical ability

Empathy

Education

Degree in Building Surveying

Job description

As part of a professional and supportive team, you will play a key role in delivering housing grants and adaptations, including Disabled Facilities Grants, enabling vulnerable residents to remain independent in their homes. You will also work on a broad range of private sector housing matters, promoting high housing standards, investigating complaints, supporting energy efficiency projects, bringing empty homes back into use and undertaking enforcement activities where required. You will be responsible for managing a varied caseload of grants, loans and housing assistance applications, along with:

• Inspecting residential properties to assess repair, improvement and adaptation needs.
• Working closely with residents, occupational therapists, contractors, landlords, agents and partner organisations.
• Supporting vulnerable households by facilitating adaptations that improve accessibility and independence.
• Investigating housing conditions complaints and identifying appropriate solutions.
• Using your technical knowledge to assess building defects, review specifications and monitor works.
• Promoting energy efficiency initiatives and low‑carbon housing improvements.
• Supporting the council's work to tackle empty homes and improve housing standards across the district.
• Preparing reports, maintaining accurate case records and providing professional advice to stakeholders.
  We are looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with excellent communication and customer service skills so it is essential that you have significant post‑qualification experience within private sector housing, environmental health or a related field as well as having:
• A Degree, Diploma or equivalent qualification in Building Surveying or a related discipline.
• Experience of delivering Disabled Facilities Grants and other housing assistance programmes.
• Knowledge of residential construction, building defects and contract administration.
• Experience of working with residents, landlords, contractors and partner agencies.
• Strong investigative, analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to manage sensitive and complex cases with professionalism and empathy.
• Strong IT skills and experience maintaining accurate records and reports.
• A Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) qualification and membership of a relevant professional body would be advantageous.
• Hybrid Working - We are an organisation that puts people first and understands how important employee wellbeing is. We want to help you to balance your working life and home life and offer flexible ways of working to help structure your life in a positive and productive way; both at home and in the office. This maximises personal development and collaborative working.
• Competitive remuneration package - We offer an excellent salary linked pension scheme, generous annual leave with flexi time, free life insurance, supportive relocation package for specific roles and opportunities for training and development.
• Ashford Borough Council recognises the need to ensure the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when they come into contact with the services we provide We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community