Property Standards and Empty Homes Officer

AbouttherolePropertyStandardsandEmptyHomesOfficer

Increase your chances of an interview by reading the following overview of this role before making an application.
ThemainfunctionofthisroleistoimprovethehousingqualitywithinElmbridgeBoroughCouncilbyworkingproactivelyandreactivelyworkingtoimprovehousingstandardsacrossalltenuresandreducethenumberofemptypropertiesintheborough.
Youwillworkunderthesupervisionoftheseniorpropertystandardsandemptyhomesofficertoinvestigateandresolvecomplaintsofpoorhousingconditionsandundertakeinspectionsofcaravansitesandtakeappropriateenforcementactiontoensurecompliancewithappropriatelegislationandregulatoryrequirements.
YouwillalsoberesponsibleforthemaintenanceofthePrivateSectorHousingteamscomputerisedrecordssystems.
Themainpurposeoftherole:PropertyStandardsandEmptyHomesOfficer
Toimprovethequality,safetyandchoiceofresidentialaccommodationinElmbridgeandmeetingtheCouncilsresponsibilitiesundertheHousingActsandotherlegislation.
Toensurebestuseofthehousingstockbyminimisingthenumberofemptyproperties.
Toprovideanexcellentservicetoowners,occupiersandtenantsinalltenuresthroughactionbyarangeofinterventionstrategies,includingenforcement,educationandadvice.
SpecificdutiesandresponsibilitiesPropertyStandardsandEmptyHomesOfficer
Tocarryoutproactiveandprogrammedinspectionsofresidentialproperties
Investigatecomplaintsregardinghousingdisrepair,inlinewithcouncilpoliciesandprocedures,usingtheHousingHealth&SafetyRatingSystem(HHSRS).Wherenecessaryandappropriate,toinitiateandpreparerecommendationsforenforcementactioninlinewithcouncilpoliciesandprocedures.
Inspection,licensingandenforcementofhousesofmultipleoccupationinlinewithcouncilpoliciesandproceduresundersupervisionbytheSeniorHousingStandardsOfficer.
Inspection,licensingandenforcementmobilehome/caravansitesinlinewithcouncilpoliciesandprocedures.
Toleadonthepromotion,identifyingandmonitoringofemptyhomesandbringingthembackintouse. Organisingawarenessoftheemptypropertyissuesandanyinitiativesthroughappropriatepromotionalmaterials,publicityandeducationandproactivelyapproachingtheownersofemptypropertiesandadvisingthemontheiroptions.
TousethecouncilspowersundertheRentersRightsAct,tosupporttheprovisionofwellmanagedandmaintainedrentedhousingwithintheborough,workingcollaborativelywithtenants,landlords,managingagentsandcolleaguesacrossthecouncil
UndertakegeneralenvironmentalprotectioncomplaintworkundertheEnvironmentalProtectionAct1990whererelatingtostatutorynuisances.
Toadviseresidents,ownersandlandlordsonmattersofdisrepair,housingstandardsand,ingeneralterms,ontheprocurementandfundingofbuildingworks.
Wherestatutorynoticeshavebeenserved,monitorcomplianceandtakeappropriateactionintheeventoffailuretocomply
ToprovideallnecessaryinformationandevidencetofacilitatelegalproceedingsandappearasawitnessfortheCouncilinlegalproceedings,tribunalsandenquiries,asdirected.
Maintainrecordsandreportsandprovidesuchstatisticalinformationasmayberequiredinrelationtothedutiesattachedtothepost
Representthecouncilatmeetingswithinternalandexternalpartners.
Keepuptodatewithcurrentlegislation,regulations,guidanceandtechnicaldevelopments.
QualificationsandEducationPropertyStandardsandEmptyHomesOfficer
GoodstandardofgeneraleducationwithexaminationspassedinEnglishLanguageandMathematics
Educatedtoatleastan HND/HNClevelorequivalent inEnvironmentalHealth,HousingoraConstructionrelatedsubject.HoldcertificateofcompetenceintheHousingHealthandSafetyRatingSystem.
HavetrainingintheinvestigatorypowersintroducedundertheRenters'RightsAct2025,orbewillingtoundertakethistrainingaspartoftherole.
ExperienceofworkingasaPrivateSectorHousingOfficer,TechnicalOfficerinanEnvironmentalHealthResidentialTeamorworkingwithinanorganisationdealingwithHousingStandardsandHMOLicensingrelatedmatters. xwzovoh
Experienceofsurveyingdwellingsfordefectsanddisrepair.
Experienceofundertakingresponsiveandprogrammedinspectionsofresidentialpremises
Experienceofdraftingstatutorynoticesandenforcementpapersinrelationtohousingconditionsandfailuretocomplywithnoticesorlicensingconditions
Experienceofidentifyingemptypropertiesandtherangeofpowersandpracticesaimedatbringingthembackintouse