Senior EHO (Private Sector Housing)

Cooper Golding Ltd.; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Local Government Pension scheme

Disability Confident Employer

Job summary

Cooper Golding Ltd. in North Devon seeks an experienced Environmental Health Officer to lead the Private Sector Housing Team. The role focuses on inspecting private housing, enforcing housing regulations, and advising owners, tenants and landlords on public health matters.

You will guide junior officers, manage licensing for park homes and HMOs, and collaborate with regulators and emergency services to improve housing conditions and legal compliance in a busy council environment.

Qualifications

• Digital skills: Confidence using databases, spreadsheets and multiple systems.
• Judgement: Strong problem-solving and decision-making.
• Resilience: Calm, effective management of competing priorities and deadlines.
• Organisation: Strong organisation and attention to detail.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Teamwork: Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Regulatory knowledge: Knowledge of housing law and procedures, including key Acts.
• Management and reporting: Brief senior managers, prepare reports and undertake projects.
• Development: Attend meetings and training to maintain knowledge.
• Records: Keep accurate, timely records.

Responsibilities

• Inspection and investigation: Inspect private housing, including HMOs, and investigate housing, nuisance and environmental complaints
• Specialist leadership: Lead in specialist areas
• Advice: Advise owners, landlords and tenants on housing and public health
• Licensing: Manage licensing for park homes, caravans and tented campsites
• Enforcement: Serve notices, prepare legal briefs and represent the Council in legal proceedings
• Supervision: Guide, mentor and supervise junior and trainee officers
• Partnership working: Work with regulators, emergency services and public health agencies

Skills

Digital skills

Judgement

Resilience

Organisation

Communication

Teamwork

Regulatory knowledge

Management and reporting

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Contractual hours 37

Basis Full time

• We offer a supportive environment in an organisation with flexible working hours and a Local Government Pension scheme.
• We believe in valuing diversity and are committed to equal opportunities as a Disability Confident Employer

We are seeking an experienced Environmental Health Officer for a key leadership role. You will need excellent communication skills and enjoy varied customer, regulatory and business support work. A driving licence and access to a car are essential for inspections across North Devon.

About the team
Join our Private Sector Housing Team and help improve housing conditions.

The team covers:

• Empty homes
• Energy efficiency
• Licensing of caravan sites, residential park homes and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
• Disabled Facilities Grants

The role

This rewarding role supports the Private Sector Housing Team and wider Environmental Health services, helping improve housing conditions and enforce the Renters’ Rights Act. Responsibilities include:

• Inspection and investigation: Inspect private housing, including HMOs, and investigate housing, nuisance and environmental complaints
• Specialist leadership: Lead in specialist areas
• Advice: Advise owners, landlords and tenants on housing and public health
• Licensing: Manage licensing for park homes, caravans and tented campsites
• Enforcement: Serve notices, prepare legal briefs and represent the Council in legal proceedings
• Supervision: Guide, mentor and supervise junior and trainee officers
• Partnership working: Work with regulators, emergency services and public health agencies

What we are looking for

You should demonstrate:

• Digital skills: Confidence using databases, spreadsheets and multiple systems
• Judgement: Strong problem-solving and decision-making
• Resilience: Calm, effective management of competing priorities and deadlines
• Organisation: Strong organisation and attention to detail
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal skills
• Teamwork: Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Relevant experience: Regulatory, compliance, customer service, administration or Environmental Health experience is desirable
• Legislative knowledge: Knowledge of housing law and procedures, including the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, Housing Act 2004 and Renters’ Rights Act 2025
• Management and reporting: Brief senior managers, prepare reports and undertake projects
• Development: Attend relevant meetings and training and maintain current professional knowledge
• Records: Keep accurate, timely records

North Devon offers an excellent quality of life, with a stunning coastline, vibrant communities and a thriving food and tourism economy. You will join a friendly team committed to better housing and legal compliance.

Our flexitime system supports work–life balance by offering flexibility while meeting service needs.

If you have not heard by the interview date, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.