Private Sector Housing Officer in Gloucester

As a Private Sector Housing Officer, your primary focus will be to improve standards within the private rented sector. You will bring your construction knowledge and housing enforcement expertise to effectively manage stakeholders in the enforcement process, including tenants, private landlords, accommodation providers and external agencies such as fire service, police and council departments. The Private Sector Housing team works across a diverse housing sector to deliver adaptations and improve standards, supporting people to live in safe, warm and good quality homes, enabling a positive impact on their health.

Maintaining a case load, you will offer support to tenants and provide advice to owners on required works and available services to improve and repair their property, ensuring all actions are accurately recorded on a database. Investigating tenant complaints about property conditions, you will conduct inspections under the Housing Act 2004 and the Renters' Rights Act 2025, serving notices and taking enforcement action for breaches, including prosecutions and civil penalty notices. Identify unlicensed HMOs that fall under the mandatory licensing regime by using existing data, site visits, and coordinating small‑scale surveys when necessary. Carry out inspections and take appropriate enforcement action against unlicensed HMOs, including prosecutions and the use of civil penalty notices. Support the development and improvement of systems and procedures to enhance standards within the private rented sector across South Gloucestershire.

What we need from you:

• Hold a degree in environmental health or an equivalent relevant qualification, or demonstrate an equivalent level of relevant knowledge in the private sector housing field.
• Be qualified in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and have the experience and competence to assess properties, including HMOs, in line with HHSRS requirements.
• Have experience drafting and serving Statutory Housing Act Notices and producing witness statements and case files to support attendance at court and tribunals.
• Have a proven track record of enforcement action and be fully knowledgeable of the Housing Act 2004, Housing and Planning Act 2016 and other private sector housing legislation for single and multi‑occupied properties.
• Bring experience in private sector housing processes and procedures, with a good understanding of the service delivery environment, along with the investigatory and people skills required to take enforcement action and a clear drive to improve conditions in the private rented sector.
• Manage and prioritise your own workload, responding to competing demands to ensure both customer satisfaction and legislative requirements are met.
• Travel throughout the authority and surrounding area; therefore you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or an alternative means of travel.

Benefits:

• Generous annual leave (pro rata) and employee wellbeing support.
• Access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• Diverse team; we welcome applications from everyone and ensure people are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• Invest in careers of our people; quality, breadth and depth of training and development offer.

South Gloucestershire Council is making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We’re building and shaping communities, planning for the future, and providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained. We need talented and dedicated people to continue to make a difference.