Senior Lawyer (Private Sector Housing)

London Borough of Newham; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market supplement up to £7,000

Hybrid working

Job summary

London Borough of Newham is seeking a Senior Enforcement Lawyer (Private Sector Housing) to provide legal expertise to the Private Sector Housing Department and HPAS. The role covers enforcement under housing-related acts with potential civil penalties and court proceedings.

The position offers varied, high-quality work in a modern office setting with attendance flexibility of 1-2 days per week depending on client needs.

Qualifications

• Experience of providing legal advice in housing enforcement matters.
• Strong research and drafting skills for findings and court documents.
• Excellent oral and written communication with clients and colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal expertise to London Borough of Newham’s Private Sector Housing Department and HPAS.
• Advise on enforcement matters under the Housing Act 2004 and the Renters Rights Act 2025.
• Assist with evidence gathering and civil penalties, criminal regulatory prosecutions, and appeals.
• Attend hearings in the Magistrates Court and the First Tier Property Tribunal where appropriate.
• Draft concise written advice for clients and briefs to counsel.

Job description

Law & Governance

(plus Market Supplement of up to £7,000 for the right candidate)

Fixed Term Contract of up to 12 months

About Us

oneSource is a fully integrated shared legal service. We advise Newham and Havering; two busy innovative and progressive Councils.

Job Description

Senior Lawyer (Private Sector Housing)

Law & Governance

£54,267 - £57,402 (plus Market Supplement of up to £7,000 for the right candidate)

Fixed Term Contract of up to 12 months

London Borough of Newham is seeking a dedicated Senior Enforcement Lawyer (Private Sector Housing) to help them achieve their goals particularly under the Housing Act 2004 and the Renters Rights Act 2025. We can provide you with varied and exciting work in a dynamic business environment. The team is based in stunning modern offices overlooking London City Airport, directly next to public transport to central London. We are constantly looking for better ways to deliver legal services for our clients and we hope you will want to be part of this exciting challenge. Office attendance is flexible with a commitment of a 1-2 days a week (dependant on client needs).

About You

You will provide legal expertise and advice to London Borough of Newham’s Private Sector Housing Department and the Homelessness Prevention Advice Service (HPAS).

You will contribute to the delivery of high quality, solution focused legal work for these clients in Newham. You will be expected to cover a range of Private Sector Housing Enforcement matters such as assistance with legal queries relating to law and procedure under the Housing Act 2004 and the Renters Rights Act 2025, advice on evidence prior to the issue of civil penalties, criminal regulatory prosecutions in the Magistrates and Crown Court and Appeals of civil penalties in the First Tier Property Tribunal and also complex debt recovery.

You will have a background in criminal regulatory matters ideally at a senior level, with excellent legal research skills including using online resources with the ability to apply this to practical situations. Possessing good oral and written communication skills you will be adept at drafting concise written advice for clients and members as appropriate and briefs to counsel etc. There is scope to attend and undertake your own hearings in the Magistrates Court and the First Tier Property Tribunal.

In addition, you will possess excellent organisational and leadership skills, and an awareness and understanding of client needs alongside excellent client care skills.

IMPORTANT: If you are an LBN member of staff and applying for this role as a secondment you should note that secondments are subject to the agreement of your current employing service. Please ensure that you inform your line manager of your intention to apply for the post in the first instance.

For further information please visit www.newham.gov.uk/jobs

Closing date 27th September 2026 at 11.59

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that's all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn .

About Us

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.