Senior Private Sector Housing Officer

• Senior_Private_Sector_Housing_Officer_-_Candidate_Pack

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Dartford Housing Services really values the contribution our staff make and in return, we offer the opportunity to ‘make a difference’ and go home at the end of the day with a very real feeling of accomplishment. An exciting vacancy has arisen for a Senior Private Sector Housing Officer.

You’ll be experienced in all areas of Private Sector Housing, enthusiastic, organised and looking for a challenging new role in a busy office environment. The post comes with the line management responsibility for currently 4 members of staff and you will play a lead role in improving housing standards in the borough’s significant private rented sector..

You will be passionate about customer service excellence and will be a significant contributor to our vision of becoming the best Housing team in Kent.

Key areas of responsibility to manage and oversee will include;

• Investigation of complaints regarding housing disrepair, including relating to damp and mould, in line with council policies and procedures, using the HHSRS and where necessary take enforcement action.
• Caravan site licensing and regulations in line with council policies and procedures
• The inspection, licensing and enforcement of HMOs in line with council policies and procedures.
• Enforcement of all relevant legislation/policies including Housing Act 2004, Housing & Planning Act 2016, The Mobile Homes Act 2013, The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (as amended), The Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 (as amended) and The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 and new legislation including the Renters Rights Act 2025 and the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.
• The Disabled Facilities Grant & Renovation Grants process.
• The work of the Private Sector Empty Properties Officer.
• The work of the Blocks of Flats Officer.
• You will also represent the council at meetings with internal and external partners.

You must be able to demonstrate the following:

• Substantial experience of working in Private Sector Housing/Environmental Health (Housing Standards) enforcement and have extensive working knowledge and skills in the field;
• Hold or be working towards a relevant qualification in an appropriate discipline, for example a CIH qualification in Housing, BSc, MSc or HNC/HND in Environmental Health, an HNC/HND in Building Studies/Surveying, APC-Housing. Or be able to demonstrate extensive knowledge, skills and experience in this field;
• In depth knowledge and experience in HHSRS, including completing assessments and producing reports/schedule of works and the service of legal notices/ orders;
• Have a good knowledge of building construction (a building maintenance related qualification is desirable but not essential), detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation, enforcement experience and be able to manage your own caseload;
• Excellent administration skills, accuracy and attention to detail;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent customer care skills;
• Be able to understand and apply legislation;
• Excellent research skills.
• Excellent numeracy and IT skills;
• The ability to discuss sensitive issues with our customers calmly;
• Able to access and inspect all areas of dwellings and able to work outdoors in all weathers.

This post is considered by DBC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements.