Private Housing Officer (Level 1)

Full Time, Fixed Term for 18 months. Are you passionate about improving housing standards and making a difference in your community? Bristol City Council's Private Housing Service is looking for an individual to join one of the largest Private Housing Services in England. With nearly 30% of Bristol's population living in private rented accommodation, this is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of housing in our vibrant city.

As a Private Housing Officer (PHO), you'll play a key role in ensuring private rented properties meet the required standards. You'll be joining a diverse team that's at the forefront of maintaining and improving housing conditions. This is a fantastic chance to make a tangible impact on the quality of housing in Bristol. This is a temporary position to provide cover for an internal secondment.

What you'll be doing:

• Handle the licensing of private rented accommodation, advising on property eligibility and owners' responsibilities.
• Process licence applications.
• Provide basic advice to tenants regarding property repairs, tenancy rights, and housing conditions.
• Manage incoming queries via phone, email, and post from private tenants, landlords, and homeowners.

What we're looking for:

• Excellent communicator, able to explain complex legislation in a clear and professional manner.
• Balance tact, empathy, and assertiveness when handling sensitive or challenging situations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good IT skills and a proactive, problem-solving approach.
• A passion for delivering excellent customer service.
• Knowledge of private housing or experience with council IT systems is a plus.

Why join our team?

• Career progression: We offer a progression framework path from Private Housing Officer Level 1 (BG8) to Level 2 (BG9), giving you the opportunity to advance as your skills develop.
• Hybrid working: We operate a hybrid model, with the flexibility to work from home most of the time, while still ensuring regular visits to our office.
• Flexible working time is available for this role.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. Join us and you will receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you will be working in a supportive environment where you will have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment. For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to. If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For any queries, please contact Kane.Davis@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you'll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.