Senior Private Sector Housing Officer - Rogue landlord in Luton

Salary: £42,839 - £46,142 a year plus £963 essential car user allowance

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Permanent

We’re looking for a Senior Private Sector Housing Enforcement Officer to play a key role in our Rogue Landlord team, helping to improve housing standards and protect residents across Luton. In this vital role, you’ll supervise and support lower-grade officers, undertake complex inspections of private sector dwellings, and lead on enforcement action against rogue and non-compliant landlords. You’ll be part of a professional, high-performing team working to ensure safe, decent homes and fair treatment for all tenants. Your expertise in environmental health, housing legislation, and enforcement will help drive real change, ensuring Luton’s residents live in properties that meet required standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and mentor lower-grade officers, providing technical guidance and supporting their professional development.
• Inspect and assess private sector dwellings to identify hazards and breaches under the Housing Act and related legislation.
• Lead on complex enforcement cases, gathering and presenting evidence, preparing legal notices, and giving witness statements in court where required.
• Analyse building tenders, inspect and measure premises, and make professional recommendations based on findings.
• Consult, negotiate, and influence landlords, agents, tenants, and partner organisations to achieve compliance and positive housing outcomes.
• Prepare detailed written reports and professional recommendations for enforcement or remedial action.
• Identifying unlicensed HMOs and taking enforcement action, such as prosecution and issuing Civil Penalties.
• Plan, prioritise, and organise your own and others’ workload to meet deadlines, balancing reactive and proactive work.
• Make effective use of information technology to record, track, and report on housing enforcement activities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Council and external agencies to tackle poor housing conditions and criminal landlord behaviour.

About You

You’ll have in-depth experience of working within an Environmental Health Private Sector Housing enforcement role, ideally within a Rogue Landlord or proactive housing enforcement environment. You’ll be a confident communicator with excellent negotiation, analytical, and report-writing skills. You’ll also have proven supervisory experience, with the ability to lead by example and motivate others.

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• In-depth experience in Environmental Health (Private Sector Housing), particularly in Rogue Landlord enforcement.
• Experience supervising and managing staff or projects within a relevant service area.
• Strong knowledge of building construction, building services, and local authority enforcement procedures.
• Ability to inspect and measure premises, evaluate complex data, and prepare evidence and witness statements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to professionals and the public.
• Ability to manage and prioritise a varied workload, meeting strict deadlines.
• Confident use of IT systems and databases to manage casework.
• Understanding of equality issues and how discrimination impacts service delivery and the people you serve.
• Ability to travel throughout the Borough and undertake physical inspections, including climbing ladders and accessing loft or roof spaces.
• Willingness to work occasional early mornings or late evenings when required.

Qualifications

Degree or Diploma in Environmental Health and registration with the Environmental Health Officers’ Registration Board (EHRB) as an EHO, EHP, or CEHP; or Equivalent extensive relevant experience in housing enforcement or environmental health.

Why Work for Luton Council?

At Luton Council, we’re proud to serve one of the most diverse and vibrant communities in the country. Our mission is to improve housing conditions, tackle rogue landlords, and make Luton a place where everyone can thrive.

We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (minimum 2 days per week in the office).
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• The chance to make a real impact on housing standards and residents’ lives.

About Us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents. The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce!

Application Process

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.

Benefits

• From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade.
• Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave.
• Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area.
• Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant.
• Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility).
• Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home.
• Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns.
• Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways.
• Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons.
• Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel.

How To Apply

We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out! Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application.