Private Sector Housing Officer

Are you passionate about improving housing conditions, regenerating communities, and making a real difference to residents\’ lives? This is a rewarding and varied role where you will use your technical knowledge, investigative skills and problem‑solving ability to improve living conditions, support vulnerable residents, and bring empty properties back into use.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for investigating housing condition concerns and taking appropriate informal or formal action and undertaking inspections using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to identify hazards and develop action plans to resolve them. Acting as the lead on bringing empty homes back into use, you will proactively identify, record and assess empty or derelict properties, along with:

• Building positive relationships with owners, landlords, agents and developers to encourage the return of vacant homes to residential use.
• Recommending and pursuing enforcement, including Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs), enforced sales, and other statutory powers.
• Administering grants and financial assistance schemes that help residents remain safe, warm and independent in their homes.
• Assessing eligibility, analysing works estimates and ensuring applications comply with legislation and council policy.
• Promoting and supporting low‑carbon and energy‑efficiency improvements.
• Gathering evidence, preparing statutory notices, undertaking PACE interviews and supporting legal proceedings.
• Maintaining accurate case records using ICT systems, ensuring data quality and compliance with relevant legislation.
• Working closely with internal teams such as Housing Options, Planning, Building Control and Community Safety, and engaging with external partners, including Kent Housing Group, Police, Fire & Rescue, NHS and safeguarding agencies, and representing the Council at public meetings, forums and partnership groups.

Qualifications

In order to be proficient in this role you will need to demonstrate that you have knowledge of private sector housing legislation and issues relating to empty and derelict homes, as well as having:

• Understanding of building types, construction methods and common defects (e.g., damp, structural movement).
• Experience working with the public, landlords, homeowners or property professionals.
• A good educational background, including GCSE English & Maths (C/4 or above) and relevant Level 5 qualifications (or equivalent experience) in Environmental Health, Housing, Building Studies or similar.
• Strong communication, negotiation and report‑writing skills.
• Ability to analyse evidence, make reasoned decisions and manage a varied caseload.
• Good IT skills and the ability to use databases and ICT systems effectively.
• It is essential that you have a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (Essential Car User allowance applies) and the ability to work occasionally outside normal office hours, and that you are physically able to undertake inspections in challenging environments, such as derelict properties, lofts, basements and outdoor sites.

Work Environment and Benefits

Hybrid Working – We are an organisation that puts people first and understands how important employee wellbeing is. We want to help you 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 and opportunities for training and development.

With devolution news and talks evolving across the country for local authorities, we understand that there may be some uncertainty for those currently serving within the sector. While Kent and Medway have not been included in the Devolution Priority Programme, discussions continue in this area. Kent, Medway and all District and Borough Councils in the South East will continue to work closely with each other to deliver vital services to our communities. This is an exciting, but stable time to join our organisation.

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.