Private Sector Housing and HMO Enforcement Officer

As a PSH and HMO Enforcement Officer, you will play a key role in improving housing standards across the private rented sector. You will use your expertise to investigate housing and public health concerns, carry out property inspections using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), and take appropriate enforcement action to ensure homes are safe and compliant with legislation.

Working directly with tenants, landlords, property owners and local businesses, you will provide clear and professional advice on meeting statutory housing obligations, helping to create safer, healthier living environments across the city.

This is a varied and engaging role where you will manage your own caseload, contribute to continuous service improvement, and support the wider Planning and Regulatory service. You will be part of a team committed to delivering a fair, proportionate and customer focused regulatory service that makes a real difference to the community.

The PSH and HMO Enforcement Officer is responsible for delivering an effective regulatory service within the private rented housing sector, ensuring the council meets its statutory duties under housing and public health legislation. The role involves investigating complaints, carrying out HHSRS inspections, identifying and assessing housing hazards, and taking appropriate informal or formal enforcement action to secure compliance. The post holder will be expected to prepare statutory notices, produce detailed records, gather and present evidence for legal proceedings, and manage a varied caseload independently while meeting strict legislative and organisational deadlines.

In addition, the role provides clear, professional advice to tenants, landlords, property owners and partner organisations, supporting safe housing conditions and promoting understanding of legal obligations. The post holder will work collaboratively across teams and with external agencies, contribute to accreditation schemes and housing improvement initiatives, and support the council’s wider Planning and Regulatory service. Maintaining up to date professional knowledge, adhering to council policies and values, and delivering a customer focused, proportionate enforcement approach are essential components of the role.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and resolve housing and public health complaints, using your expertise to ensure safe, compliant homes across the private rented sector.
• Carry out professional HHSRS inspections to identify hazards and drive meaningful improvements in housing standards.
• Take decisive enforcement action—from drafting statutory notices to following through on compliance—to protect residents and uphold legal requirements.
• Produce clear, high quality inspection records, including evidence, schedules of work, and supporting documentation that stand up to legal scrutiny.
• Prepare and present evidence for legal proceedings, playing a key role in holding non compliant landlords to account. [
• Manage your own diverse caseload, balancing competing priorities in a fast moving regulatory environment.
• Support landlord accreditation and housing improvement initiatives, helping raise standards across the city.
• Provide clear, customer focused advice to tenants, landlords and stakeholders, building constructive relationships that support compliance.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and partner organisations to deliver effective enforcement and better outcomes for residents.
• Stay professionally up to date, using CPD, research and training to maintain your expertise in housing and public health legislation

Skills Required

• Strong communicator able to explain complex housing issues clearly and confidently.
• Skilled at persuasion, negotiation and building constructive relationships.
• Confident in assessing housing hazards and making sound professional judgements.
• Able to produce clear, accurate notices, reports and evidence for enforcement.
• Organised and adaptable, with the ability to manage a varied caseload independently.
• Detail focused, analytical and able to handle challenging or confrontational situations professionally.
• IT confident, with excellent skills in Word, Excel and case management systems.
• Committed to high¿quality customer service, equality, and positive teamworking

Educational Requirements

• Degree in Environmental Health or another relevant professional qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain membership of the relevant professional body (e.g., CIEH).

For more information or a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Lindsey Brunt ***email_hidden***.

Why work for us

Our council is full of people who have chosen to work in local government because they want to help others and make a difference to their lives or the environment in which local people live.

To find out more about working and living in Norwich Home | Work in Norwich.

The council has a long and proud history of being a council that is keen to push the boundaries of what a district can achieve, to find out more about what it is like to work in local government visit Working in local government - #LocalGov Careers - Youth Employment UK

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the council provides. We also offer good career prospects with competitive rates of pay, generous holidays and working arrangements to suit all lifestyles.

Equal Opportunities Policy

The council is committed to a policy of equality opportunity in employment, in recruitment and the services we provide. Applications are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post regardless of sex, gender reassignment, race, ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, domestic responsibilities, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. People with disabilities are guaranteed an interview provided they are suitably qualified and/or experienced.

Candidates will be considered for shortlisting on the factual information on their application form. Therefore it is important to give as much detail as possible including information about experience gained outside employment.

Benefits

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package and are proud to have the Living Wage accreditation. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

• All employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Paid holiday entitlement starts at 26 days per annum and increases with length of service to a maximum of 33 days per annum. This is pro rata for part-time employees
• In addition to the statutory public holidays, we grant an additional statutory day leave at Christmas
• Norwich City Council supports its employees through the provision of occupational health and employee assistance support