Principal Private Sector Housing Officer

About the role

You will play a key role in managing, delivering and improving services within the Council\’s Private Sector Housing function. We are looking to recruit two Principal Officers to lead in either Disrepair Investigations and Enforcement or HMO Licensing and Compliance.

Your responsibilities will include informal and formal enforcement, handling disrepair complaints, regulating Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), managing empty homes, licensing caravans and camping sites, and promoting energy efficiency improvements across residential properties.

As part of your role, you will manage a small team of Environmental Health Officers and Private Sector Housing Officers to ensure that services are delivered efficiently and key performance indicators are met. This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive and forward-thinking team at a time of exciting growth and development in this service area.

About You

We are looking for a dynamic and organised professional with:

• A degree or master’s degree in Environmental Health
• At least three years’ experience in housing, environmental health, or a related field
• Expert knowledge of legislation relevant to the role, particularly the Housing Act 2004, with a specialism in either disrepair or HMO functions
• Experience delivering high-quality, customer-focused services
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within multi-agency partnerships
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle challenging situations tactfully
• Confidence in presenting information to a variety of audiences
• Advanced IT skills and experience implementing new systems
• Leadership experience, including managing and motivating staff
• A commitment to delivering excellent customer care and continuous service improvements

You are ready to take on a new challenge and help shape the future of private sector housing in Hillingdon, we would love to hear from you.

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation\’s success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject tothe following pre-employment screening:

• Basic DBS Check
• Qualifications Check
• 3 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.