Private Sector Housing Officer

JOB TITLE: Private Sector Housing Officer

DEPARTMENT: Strategic Housing (Private Sector Housing)

POST NUMBER: 1968

GRADE: Scale 5

DURATION OF ROLE: 18 months

HOURS: 37 hours per week

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Senior Private Sector Housing Officer

LOCATION: City Offices and hybrid working from home (first three weeks at the City Offices)

POST OBJECTIVE: To contribute to improving the quality of the private sector housing stock and ensure the sector is able to fulfil its potential in meeting housing need in the district. The post holder may be required to line manage one officer and will undertake the full range of private sector housing functions, including enforcement, complaint work, the licencing of HMOs, the delivery of disabled facilities grants, the inspection on empty homes as required, as well as assist in the annual inspection of mobile home parks. The post holder will also be required to respond to and investigate service request complains including those around damp and mould and vermin.

All work will be carried out in accordance with statutory requirements as well as council policy and procedures.

SPECIFIC TASKS:

• To line manage, if required, the Private Sector Housing Administrator.
• To investigate under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004, Environmental Protection Act 1990 and other current or future legislation complaints of poor housing conditions in both private sector and social housing accommodation and provide technical and directed advice to resolve matters. Where possible and appropriate, to work cooperatively with landlords to ensure required standards are met and housing conditions improved where required.
• To inspect, with a high level of competency, all types of private dwellings in the private rented sector including houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) to ensure compliance with public health and housing legislation.
• To carry out house condition surveys and risk assessments for the purposes of identifying structural and other serious deficiencies and hazards, using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), the Decent Homes Standard and any successor systems and standards.
• On receipt of a service request, make an initial assessment, exercising professional judgement as to the nature and seriousness of the housing standards defect. Seek to resolve the issue informally if appropriate or progress towards immediate formal enforcement action.
• Draft schedules of works, notices and orders for enforcement under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 and other relevant legislation in accordance with the council's scheme of delegation.
• To undertake follow-up inspections where statutory notices, and informal notices have been served to determine whether the works have been satisfactorily completed.
• Be fully conversant with the powers, duties and obligations conferred by the relevant legislation.
• To carry out reactive and proactive complaint work in respect of all types of HMO properties and investigate the licensing status of HMO premises including inspection of housing conditions and assessment of management and amenity standards.
• In licensed properties monitor and assess compliance with licensing conditions.
• Correspond with landlords and managing agents to achieve compliance with all relevant legislation.
• Prepare prosecution cases in accordance with the Private Sector Housing enforcement policy, PACE and other relevant legislation and within legal time limits.
• To appear at Magistrates Court, County Court or tribunal to give evidence when required as a witness for the council in respect of prosecution cases.
• Attend tribunal hearings in relation to appeals against action taken under all relevant legislation as delegated under the council's scheme of delegation.
• To investigate reports of empty homes within the district and to take appropriate action wherever possible to bring a property back into use.
• Help maintain the register of empty homes in accordance with Council policy.
• To consider and comment on applications for planning permission in respect of all housing matters.
• Deliver and administer Disabled Facilities Grants and be fully conversant in the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.
• Undertake other duties as may reasonably be expected and required within the general scope of the role.

In addition, the post holder will be required to: 1. Comply with the council's safeguarding Policy. 2. Comply with the council's Equal Opportunities Policy. 3. Comply with the Code of Conduct and other relevant policy, procedures and legislation. 4. Comply with and/or ensure compliance with the Council's Data Protection Policies and the General Data Protection Regulations and other relevant legislation.

Health and Safety Every employee while at work has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work – Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Equality

Winchester City Council bases its employment practices on the concept of equal opportunity. As an equal opportunity employer the Council opposes all forms of discrimination or unfair treatment on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, religious belief, sexual orientation, disability or June 2025 June 2025 age. No employee or job applicant will be disadvantaged by any condition or requirement which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Safeguarding

Winchester City Council has a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding