Private Sector Housing Officer - Private Sector Housing Team

Do you have a passion for protecting residents, raising housing standards, and making a real difference in your community? Reading Borough Council’s Private Sector Housing Team is seeking a dedicated Private Sector Housing Officer to help us ensure that homes in the private rented sector are safe, well-maintained, and meet statutory requirements.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities. We support hybrid working; it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

About the role:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for some project work within the Team. You will lead on a targeted project addressing damp and mould in the private rented sector. This initiative will involve enhanced interventions in selected cases, working closely with tenants, landlords, and partner agencies to identify causes, implement solutions, and improve living conditions of those affected by damp and mould. The project also aims to educate tenants, landlords, and other professionals on factors that contribute to condensation damp and associated mould growth in the home in an effort to help reduce condensation dampness and associated mould growth and in turn improve the quality of accommodation affected by damp and mould across all rented tenures.

You’ll work closely with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies, helping to improve property standards and promote good practice across the private housing sector in Reading. We are seeking someone with a strong understanding of housing and environmental health legislation, particularly the Housing Act 2004, and experience of leading on projects to ensure that the key aims of the project are delivered on time. You will also have experience of inspecting houses, assessing risks using the HHSRS, and dealing with a broad range of issues such as damp and mould, fire safety, and property disrepair. Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential, as is the ability to manage a diverse caseload and respond flexibly to changing demands.

This role offers a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in Housing Enforcement and project work particularly around damp and mould, making a real difference to the lives of residents in Reading. You’ll be supported by experienced officers throughout your time at Reading to help develop your skills in the Environmental Health field. This post may be particularly attractive to graduate Environmental Health Officers looking to gain practical experience and develop their skills in a supportive team environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead on a project addressing damp and mould in the private rented sector involving enhanced interventions in selected cases to improve housing conditions and support vulnerable tenants and support our wider strategic objectives.
• Work closely with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies to deliver the key aims of the project and promote good practice.
• Investigate complaints and carry out inspections of private sector housing in line with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
• Enforce housing legislation, including issuing notices, preparing legal documentation, and attending court or tribunals where necessary.
• Manage cases relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), including licensing, inspections, and compliance.