Housing Enforcement Officer

Description:

Job Title: Housing Enforcement Officer
Location: Hybrid - 2 to 3 days per week in the office based in Northampton (NN1)
Hourly Pay Rate: £30 to £35 (Umbrella)
Hours: 37 per week
Length of the contract: Initially 3 months with potential to go permanent

Gi Group are now seeking to appoint an experienced Housing Enforcement Officer to our client based in Northampton. The Housing Enforcement Officer will improve housing conditions and effect a positive and sustained step change in the behaviour of landlords and letting agents through advice, licensing, risk-based interventions, and intelligence-led enforcement action.

Duties of the Housing Enforcement Officer

To improve housing conditions and effect a positive and sustained step change in the behaviour of landlords and letting agents through advice, licensing, risk-based interventions, and intelligence-led enforcement action. Including the optimum use of civil penalties, rent repayment orders, and licencing fees to support an intelligence-led approach to housing enforcement, and maximise the impact in tackling criminal, rogue, and irresponsible landlords.
To provide an efficient, high-quality advice, information, and enforcement service for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in order to ensure that all HMOs are well managed, safe, and habitable, and that all licensable HMOs are licenced.
Undertake a range of activities including property inspections, HHSRS assessments, the drafting of schedules of work and the preparation and serving of notices, interviewing people under caution, executing warrants of entry, and carrying out works in default and prepare cases for prosecution or the imposition of civil penalties to ensure the maintenance and improvement of standards across the Private Rented sector. Give evidence as necessary in the Tribunal and Courts Service.
Work collaboratively with owners and managers of licensable HMOs to ensure that their properties are licenced, well managed, maintained in a good condition, meet the amenity standards, and comply with the HMO Management Regulations.
Respond promptly, within agreed timescales, to complaints about serious disrepair and housing related nuisance in the private sector, and through investigation evaluate risks and hazards, and determine the nature, cause, urgency, and remedy of the problems.
Develop and maintain close working relations with a wide range of other services and organisations in order to facilitate the flow of information, encourage joint working and cooperation, achieve the prompt resolution of complex problems, and ensure that, even when an input is required from a number of teams, service delivery is always well coordinated and the service user is kept fully informed of the developments.
Role Criteria

HHRS Certificate.
Qualified Housing Enforcement Officer with a relevant degree.
Recent experience of enforcement activities under the Housing Act 2004, including the drafting and issue of enforcement notices, financial penalties, magistrates court, and first tier tribunal.
Recent experience of undertaking housing inspections, the recognition of Category 1 hazards, and the remediation of Category 1 hazards.
Excellent negotiating and advocacy skills, and the drive and commitment to achieve positive outcomes for residents and service users.
In depth knowledge of the Housing Acts, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and local authorities' regulatory and enforcement powers in relation to HMOs and private sector housing conditions, and their practical application.
In depth knowledge of the wider enforcement options available, beyond the Housing Acts, that contribute to the delivery of improvements to the standards if accommodation for tenants.
Experience of the production of enforcement cases, including giving evidence in the First Tier Tribunal or Magistrates Court for housing related matters.
Experience of operation a HMO Licencing Scheme, including processing licences under both Mandatory and Additional Licencing, undertaking property inspections, and ensuring compliance with licence conditions and legislation requirements.
Hiring Contact: Tiegan Clark
Agency: Gi Group