Housing Enforcement and Licensing Officer

Private Sector Housing Service - HMO Licensing Team

About Camden

Camden is building somewhere everyone can thrive, by making our borough the best place to live, work, study and visit. Because we’re not just home to UK’s fast-growing economy. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today. And we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind. Here’s where you can help decide a better future for us all.

With over 30% of households in Camden’s private rented sector, it’s the Private Sector Housing Service’s responsibility to improve this important sector. The Camden Plan has committed to make homes in Camden safe, well-managed and well-maintained and taking an active role in shaping a private rented sector that works.

About the role

Sitting in the Private Sector Housing Service, within the Supporting Communities Directorate, the primary objective of the role is to improve standards within the private rented sector within Camden, whether this be through the investigation of complaints or through our Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing schemes. The role will enable you to utilise the full range of enforcement tools to tackle sub-standard private rented accommodation within the Borough, from HMO Licensing, improvement notices to Final Management Orders and Banning Orders. You will also be expected to promote the use of grants and landlord accreditation as an alternative or complementary approach, all with the aim of improving the private housing sector in the borough, with particular emphasis on the private rented sector.

About you

You will have some experience in taking enforcement action and knowledge of housing standards including HMO licensing. Be trained on applying the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

You will be expected to:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of our role in improving standards within the private rented sector.
• Contribute towards the key objectives of the service by:

o Undertake HMO licensing inspections, including identification of defects, poor management practices.

o Identify and secure interventions in the investigation of complaints and other enquiries and understand the situations where any intervention may not be required.

o Effectively monitor the progress of works/actions required by informal/formal action

o Demonstrate good customer care and communication skills in explaining complex and technical issues accurately, clearly and concisely both orally and in writing when dealing with all service users.

o Develop a good understanding of relevant legislation utilised to tackle poor property and management standards within the private rented sector.

• Demonstrate a good understanding of housing construction and components, and an up to date understanding of improvement trends and capabilities including those around energy efficiency.
• Ability to take an organised approach to own workload whilst dealing with conflicting priorities and ensuring a customer service focused approach.
• Willing to gain experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners to identify innovative and creative approaches to complaints and Camden objectives.
• Demonstrate your involvement in organising, coordinating and participating on projects as part of a team, and identify how this has led to a successful outcome.
• Knowledge of and ability to manage sensitive intelligence and information securely.
• Understand importance of accurate data entry in relation to updating management information systems and the consequential impact on business intelligence for the service.
• Demonstrate an awareness of politically sensitive issues.

You may also have:

• BTEC in Environmental Health, BTEC/ONC in Building Construction or equivalent or relevant work experience, or
• Advanced Practical Certificate in the Private Rented Sector
• Diploma in Private Sector Housing Interventions
• Works towards (but not yet completed) Environmental Health Degree