Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Investigate housing conditions, process applications, and enforce standards to ensure safe living environments.
- Company: Join Hillingdon Council, dedicated to providing high-quality housing for all residents.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, generous holidays, mental health support, and discounts on leisure activities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on community housing standards while working in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Strong knowledge of housing legislation and experience in inspections and enforcement required.
- Other info: We value diversity and offer guaranteed interviews for candidates with disabilities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About the role
At Hillingdon, we are committed to ensuring all residents have access to safe, well-managed, and high-quality housing. We are seeking a Senior Private Sector Housing Officer to join our dedicated team, delivering an efficient, high-quality private sector housing service across the borough.
This is a varied and rewarding role where you will take action to improve housing standards, process property licence applications, and carry out enforcement where necessary. You will play a key part in protecting residents, supporting landlords to comply with their responsibilities, and tackling poor housing conditions.
What you’ll be doing
As a Senior Private Sector Housing Officer, you will:
-
Investigate service requests and complaints, carrying out inspections of private rented properties.
-
Assess housing conditions under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
-
Draft schedules of works, notices, and orders, taking enforcement action where required.
-
Process and inspect property licence applications, assessing housing and management standards.
-
Monitor compliance with licensing conditions and investigate unlicensed premises.
-
Prepare case files and represent the Council in tribunals and court hearings.
-
Issue cautions, financial penalty notices, and rent repayment orders in line with policy.
-
Maintain accurate casework records, reports, and monitoring data.
-
Provide guidance and advice to landlords, tenants, and managing agents.
-
Mentor and support apprentices and new team members.
About you
We’re looking for someone with:
-
Strong knowledge of housing legislation, particularly the Housing Act 2004, Environmental Protection Act 1990, and related regulations.
-
Experience of inspections, enforcement, and case management in the private housing sector.
-
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies.
-
Confidence in preparing and presenting cases for enforcement action, tribunals, and courts.
-
The ability to work flexibly, prioritise competing demands, and handle complex casework.
-
A proactive approach, always looking for opportunities to improve services.
This is an opportunity to make a real difference by ensuring homes in Hillingdon’s private sector are safe, decent, and well-managed.
If you are passionate about housing standards and enforcement and want to help us put residents first, we’d love to hear from you.
About us
- 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.
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
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:
- Standard DBS Check
- Qualifications Check
- 3 years of Referencing
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Private Sector Housing Officer employer: Hillingdon Council
Contact Detail:
Hillingdon Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Private Sector Housing Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Housing Act 2004 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Understanding these laws will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the role and your ability to navigate complex housing legislation.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the housing sector, especially those who have experience in private sector housing enforcement. Attend local housing forums or workshops to build connections and gain insights that could be beneficial during your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for potential scenario-based questions by thinking through how you would handle specific cases of poor housing conditions or landlord compliance issues. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and proactive approach during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Hillingdon Council's current initiatives and challenges in private sector housing. Being knowledgeable about their specific goals and issues will allow you to tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Private Sector Housing Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Senior Private Sector Housing Officer position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the role.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience with housing legislation, inspections, and enforcement actions. Use specific examples to demonstrate your knowledge and how it relates to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, provide examples of how you've effectively engaged with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies in the past. This could be through case management or during inspections.
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Craft a compelling cover letter that not only expresses your passion for housing standards but also addresses how you can contribute to improving services in Hillingdon. Make sure to mention your proactive approach and ability to handle complex casework.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hillingdon Council
✨Know Your Legislation
Familiarise yourself with key housing legislation, especially the Housing Act 2004 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Being able to discuss these laws confidently will demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the role.
✨Prepare for Case Scenarios
Think about potential case scenarios you might encounter in the role. Be ready to discuss how you would handle inspections, enforcement actions, and compliance monitoring. This shows your practical understanding of the job.
✨Showcase Communication Skills
Highlight your communication skills by preparing examples of how you've effectively engaged with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies in the past. Clear communication is crucial in this role, so be prepared to demonstrate it.
✨Demonstrate a Proactive Approach
Discuss instances where you've taken initiative to improve services or resolve issues. A proactive mindset aligns well with the expectations of the role and shows that you're committed to making a positive impact.
