Housing Regulations Officer - Portsmouth, United Kingdom - Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council

Verified Company

Portsmouth, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Salary:
Band 8 - £32,020 - £34,722 p.a.

Fixed Term Contract for 5 years or until the end of the Additional Licensing project

37 hours per week
Portsmouth City Council has designated a city wide Additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across Portsmouth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a new team delivering this Additional HMO Licensing scheme.

You will be part of the Housing Regulation licensing team within the Private Sector Housing service for Portsmouth City Council, delivering responsive and effective services to anyone who approaches the city council needing help regarding their home.

This includes the delivery of statutory functions relating to housing standards and licencing of houses in multiple occupation (HMO).

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and dedicated individuals with a commitment to top quality regulatory services.

The fulfilment of the purpose of the service is the primary focus as should be the aim at all times

Provide help and advice to make homes liveable, safe and healthy.

What is the role?

The Housing Regulation Officer is responsible for delivering compliance with the law in the most appropriate manner and in the appropriate possible timeframe, ensuring that high regard is given to the entire range of options and best practice and whilst remaining in compliance with the law.

The duties of the role will include the following related to the legislative and statutory duties, and the council's private rental sector strategy:

Receive, assess and where necessary action, customer demand relating to the provision and management of Houses of Multiple Occupation in the private rental sector
Carry out reactive, routine or proactive visits to private rental properties and, where necessary, undertaking Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS) assessments.
Where problems are discovered with the provision of housing, working with landlords and tenants to find the best solution, always aiming to keep the tenant in their home wherever possible.

- investigate complaints in respect to statutory duties or regulations
- carry out inspections and monitoring as required to ensure that actions are undertaken and outcomes are achieved

Ensure that health and welfare of tenants is maintained in accordance with legislation and, where applicable, the needs of any licence.
Ensure that legislation and local policy regarding HMOs is adhered to, providing information on licence conditions where appropriate, and monitoring compliance with these conditions.
Provide advice, guidance and assistance to customers contacting the service ensuring regulatory compliance through education and advice.
Take enforcement action, where required and preparing for cases which may go to tribunal or court. On occasions this may including attending court to give evidence.
Preparing and serving formal enforcement notices.
Using professional judgement to make decisions on the best course of action, while dealing with potentially confrontational situations with landlords and tenants assertively.
Commit to the continual development of the service and personal professional development.

Additionally, the role will:
- provide advice, guidance and assistance to householders and tenants contacting the service ensuring regulatory compliance through education and advice.
- take enforcement action, where required and preparing for cases which may go to tribunal or court. In rare occasions this may include attending court to give evidence.

Who is the person?

It is desirable that the post holder will hold (or be working towards holding) a level 6 qualification in housing, environmental health, environmental science, housing engineering or construction.
It is desirable that the post holder holds (or is working towards holding) associate level CIEH membership, member level of the CIH or membership of another relevant body. This will include evidence of continual professional development (CPD).
It is essential that the post holder is (a) educated up to (or working towards) at least level 3 in a relevant Housing, construction or environmental health qualification and (b) ideally will have demonstrable experience (minimum of 2 years) in working with stakeholders within the private rental sector to achieve the right outcomes with regard to Housing Standards.

For new starters without a relevant qualification.

Applicants will be considered for a development role starting at band 7 and moving to band 8 when level qualification 3 is achieved.

The post holder can successfully balance prescriptive proactive regulatory regimes with those relating to reactive responses to complaints / breaches of legislation. This includes together with gathering evidence, keeping clear and precise records to determine what actions need to be undertaken in line with noncompliance, and have a sound approach to decision making when determining the best course of act