Tenancy Relations Officer in Kent

Are you passionate about housing standards, tenant rights, and making a real difference in people’s lives? We’re introducing an exciting new position of a Tenancy Relations Officer to join our Private Sector Housing Team. This is an excellent opportunity to play a lead role in protecting tenants from tenancy related breaches such as rental bidding, discrimination against renters who have children or receive benefits and unlawful eviction or harassment, while supporting landlords and residents to achieve positive housing outcomes.

The Private Sector Housing Team’s function is to improve the standard of private sector properties through grant assistance, enforcement action, education and advice. The Tenancy Relations Officer is a pivotal new role created in response to the landmark Renters Rights Act 2025 – a once in a generation transformation of the private rented sector. From 1 May 2026, the ban on no‑fault evictions marked a major shift in tenant protection, alongside the introduction of a wide range of new tenancy offences and strengthened safeguards against unlawful eviction and harassment.

This is a rewarding opportunity to be at the forefront of change, helping to enforce new rights and make a meaningful difference to tenants’ lives. Working within a busy and dynamic service, you will:

• Investigate complaints and potential breaches of landlord and tenant law
• Provide specialist advice and guidance on housing/tenancy law
• Support vulnerable households to sustain their accommodation
• Gather evidence and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary – including issuing civil penalties of up to £40,000 and initiating criminal prosecutions in the Magistrates' and Crown Courts

As this is an entirely new role, you will be able to help shape how we deliver our new regulatory responsibilities in respect of tenancy protection and enforcement. This will include engaging in educational activities to promote compliance with the new tenancy rules. This post will be attractive to anyone seeking to broaden their experience with a challenging and varied role where initiative and robust interventions are encouraged. There has never been a more exciting time to join Dartford Borough Council.

Minimum requirements include:

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs Grade 9 to 4 (or equivalent) including Maths & English Language AND educated to A Level standard or equivalent such as a Level 3 qualification.
• Experience of working in a regulatory or enforcement environment including in Private Sector Housing /Housing Solutions/Housing, Environmental Health, Trading Standards, a legal or regulatory setting or equivalent.
• OR possess a Level 4 or above Qualification in a related field e.g., Housing, Environmental Health, Law, Law enforcement or regulatory services etc.
• Experience of dealing sympathetically, positively and fairly with customers or clients and experience of dealing with difficult customers and situations.
• Working knowledge of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, Housing Act 1988, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and Housing Act 2004 is desirable.
• Awareness of the Renters Rights Act 2025.
• Ability to carry out site visits.
• Full clean driving licence with access to a car (Business use insurance will be required for this post).
• This role requires a standard DBS check.

You must be able to demonstrate the following:

• Strong IT skills - able to use all standard office packages and databases.
• Good written skills including composing emails, letters, making contemporaneous notes and reports.
• Excellent negotiation skills and verbal skills including face to face and on telephone.
• Able to deal with challenging behaviour.
• Able to interpret and apply complex laws/regulations.
• Must have adaptable and flexible attitude to work requirements and problem solving.
• Ability to manage own workload, use own initiative to solve problems and work independently.
• Highly conscious and aware of confidentiality and integrity with the ability to manage and interpret sensitive and confidential information.
• A willingness to learn and undertake training.
• Ability to produce accurate records, documents and standard legal notices.
• Experience in dealing with formal legal and administrative procedures.
• Experience undertaking enforcement action is desirable.
• Relevant experience and/or qualifications in investigatory practice, gathering witness statements in line with PACE conditions, preparing prosecution files and attending court/tribunals is desirable.

The Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer. This post is considered by DBC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements.

How to apply: Please complete your application by using the apply button below. Do not send your CV – only fully completed application forms will be accepted.