Team Lead (Private Sector Housing Standards) in London

If you enjoy working in a challenging, fast-paced environment and have a passion to tackle some of the worst properties, we have a vacancy for a Team Lead post. From the outset of employment, there will be flexible working arrangements and training opportunities. Occasionally, it may be necessary to work outside normal hours.

Newham is an exciting, vibrant inner-city borough that is committed to putting people at the heart of everything we do. It has one of the largest private rented sectors in England. Its Private Sector Housing Service is at the forefront of the regulation of this private sector through its pioneering borough wide property licensing schemes. Our schemes have protected tenants and landlords by creating a genuine and tangible deterrent for criminal landlords.

Over half of all families in Newham rent, many living in sub-standard dwellings and overcrowded Houses in Multiple Occupation. This presents a challenge and Team Leads play a vital role in improving the lives and quality of living for this vulnerable sector. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far and are looking to build upon this good work. Newham is alive with opportunity and we are looking for highly experienced, enthusiastic and professional individuals to continue to improve our private rented sector.

Private Sector Housing Standards (PSHS) are looking for an individual talented Team Lead to join our dynamic team. The role will be working within PSHS to:

• Manage a team of Senior/Environmental Health/Private Sector Housing Officers and Tenancy Liaison Officers (TLOs) dealing with the range of private sector enforcement work, including the TLO workstream of illegal evictions and serious harassment.
• Identify developments in each of the areas, identify training needs to build a supportive team where each of the team members can thrive.
• Identify and build on areas of collaboration with both internal and external partners.
• Carry out inspections of unlicensed properties, licence condition checks and inspecting properties in disrepair.

You will need to demonstrate a high level of recent experience and competencies in the following areas:

• Expert knowledge of the Housing Act 2004 and other housing legislation.
• Significant practical experience of serving legal documents and enforcing the above.
• Significant competency in using HHSRS.
• Significant practical experience in carrying out housing inspections for both disrepair and property licensing issues.
• Knowledge and experience of compiling evidence and taking cases to both court and the First Tier Tribunal.
• Knowledge of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and the potential impacts on the private rented sector.

You will be responsible for carrying out high standard regulatory work within the Private Rented Sector. In doing so you will be protecting tenants and making the private rented sector a fairer place to operate. You can expect a mix of casework and project work supporting tenants, as well as working pro-actively to address both common and highly complex problems.

You must be qualified with a BSc or MSc Environmental Health degree or equivalent and be EHRB registered or registered with the CIEH as an Environmental Health Practitioner (REnvH or CEnvH) and have a minimum of 4 years’ post qualification experience, ideally with some experience of managing complex housing related projects. You must have experience and knowledge in enforcing housing and environmental health legislation and practices. You must also have experience in informing the public and businesses about legislation. You will require extensive knowledge of housing legislation, including the law relating to the specific areas highlighted above, as well evidential and court/tribunal procedures. You will need excellent written and verbal communication skills, good IT skills and experience of working within a successful team. You will need to have good leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, delegating relevant tasks where required and reporting on progress to senior managers.

The role requires you to support and assist colleagues in resolving complex housing cases, through your comprehensive knowledge of private sector housing and property licensing within the local government framework. You will need to have excellent communication skills to motivate colleagues and improve team working. As a Team Lead you will have to supervise people and projects. You will need to demonstrate experience of leading on housing enforcement cases. You will be able to take the lead in delivering housing operations and work effectively with various external and internal partners.

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.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.