Housing Regulations Officer

Portsmouth City Council are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, and dedicated individual with a commitment to top quality regulatory services.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Private Sector Housing service in delivering the city wide mandatory and additional licensing schemes for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across Portsmouth.
The Housing Regulations Officer is there to support landlords and tenants in ensuring their homes are liveable, safe and healthy, as well as carrying out enforcement activities when landlords do not comply. Officers must consider all options when determining the most suitable course of action.
Regard must be given to legislative duties, statutory duties, and the council's private rented sector strategy.


Skills:

• It is essential that the post holder is educated up to (or working towards) at least level 3 in a relevant Housing, construction, enforcement, or environmental health qualification or will have demonstrable experience in working with stakeholders within Housing to achieve the right outcomes with regard to Housing Standards.
• 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).
• The post holder can successfully balance a varied workload comprising of proactive inspections with responding to complaints with varying levels of severity and prioritise effectively.
• The post holder will ideally have knowledge and experience of housing legislation and processes around enforcement, particularly in regard to private rental sector and houses of multiple occupancy.
• The post holder will have a demonstrable knowledge of surveying residential property and be able to undertake a full property inspection.
• The post holder will have demonstrable knowledge and experience of the Housing Health and Safety Rating system (HHSRS) however full training will be provided if required.
• The post holder will have knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Housing Act 2004, Public Health Acts, and Building Regulations, and Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
• The post holder will have knowledge of enforcement action and carrying out investigations and be able to prepare and serve formal enforcement notices and understand the importance of keeping clear and precise records to determine what actions need to be undertaken.
• The post holder with have a sound approach to decision making and be able to justify their actions using relevant policies, legislation and guidance.
• The post holder will be able to identify and provide advice on necessary property repairs and be able to give clear instructions on what works should be carried out.
• The post holder will be emotionally resilient and able to deal with the impact of being exposed to customer's difficult circumstances whilst being able to remain professionally detached and focused, even if the message you deliver involves saying no.
• The post holder works proactively and is able to remain motivated, working on their own initiative in coordinating multiple tasks.
• The post holder is competent in the use of IT systems with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Packages (to include Word, Outlook, and Excel) and databases.
• The post holder will have an understanding of Systems Thinking approach in relation to the importance of applying value steps within the purpose of the service.