Private Sector Housing Officer

Contract to start ASAP until 22-01-27 with a possible extension.

Full Job DescriptionPrivate Sector Housing Officer

Location: Hackney, London

Contract: Temporary

Pay Rate: £22.24 per hour (Umbrella)

Help Improve Housing Standards and Protect Residents Across Hackney

We're recruiting an experienced and proactive Private Sector Housing Officer to support housing enforcement and regulatory activity in Hackney.

This is a varied role focused on improving housing conditions within the private rented sector, investigating complaints, inspecting properties, working with landlords and tenants, and supporting appropriate enforcement action where required.

You'll need strong knowledge of housing standards, excellent communication skills and the confidence to manage a varied caseload involving potentially complex property and tenancy issues.

About the Role

As Private Sector Housing Officer, you'll support the delivery of private-sector housing functions, helping ensure rented homes meet appropriate legal and safety standards.

You'll investigate housing-condition complaints, inspect residential properties, assess hazards and work with landlords, managing agents, tenants and other stakeholders to secure improvements.

The role requires a practical understanding of housing legislation and enforcement processes, together with the ability to produce clear records, notices and reports.

What you'll be doing:

• Investigating complaints about housing conditions within privately rented accommodation.
• Carrying out property inspections, identifying defects, hazards and potential breaches of housing standards.
• Assessing housing conditions, including applying relevant housing health and safety principles where required.
• Working with landlords and managing agents, clearly explaining required improvements and monitoring agreed actions.
• Providing advice to tenants and residents regarding housing conditions, responsibilities and available support.
• Preparing enforcement documentation, including notices, schedules of works and supporting case records where appropriate.
• Monitoring compliance with enforcement action, carrying out follow-up inspections and escalating cases where required.
• Investigating potential licensing or property-management breaches, depending on the responsibilities of the service.
• Supporting action relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation, where this falls within the allocated caseload.
• Gathering evidence and maintaining accurate case files, ensuring records can support formal enforcement proceedings where necessary.
• Working collaboratively with environmental health, housing, planning, fire safety and other partner serviceson complex cases.
• Responding to enquiries from residents, landlords and other stakeholders, providing clear and professional information.
• Preparing reports and case summaries, including information required for management review, legal action or formal hearings.
• Prioritising urgent or high-risk housing cases, ensuring serious concerns are escalated promptly.
• Contributing to wider initiatives to improve conditions within the private rented sector.

Requirements

We're looking for a confident, organised and knowledgeable housing professional who can investigate property issues, communicate effectively and progress cases to resolution.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience in private-sector housing, environmental health, housing enforcement or property standards.
• Knowledge of housing legislation and enforcement processes.
• Experience inspecting residential properties and identifying housing hazards or disrepair.
• Understanding of private rented sector responsibilities, including the respective responsibilities of landlords and tenants.
• Experience managing a varied housing or regulatory caseload.
• Ability to prepare professional reports, notices, correspondence and case records.
• Strong investigative and problem-solving skills.
• Confidence dealing with landlords, tenants and managing agents, including challenging conversations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to gather, assess and record evidence accurately.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise cases according to risk.
• Good IT skills, including case-management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• An understanding of confidentiality, data protection and professional record keeping.
• Local authority housing enforcement experience would be highly advantageous.
• Eligibility to work in the UK and the ability to complete required pre-employment checks.

Why Apply

• Opportunity to help improve housing conditions for private-sector tenants.
• Varied role combining property inspections, case management and enforcement activity.
• Chance to develop or build on local authority housing experience.
• Competitive umbrella rate of £22.24 per hour.
• Opportunity to work within a busy London housing environment.

Benefits

• Weekly Pay
• Company Pension
• Ongoing Agency Support

Benefits are subject to eligibility and the agreed agency and payroll arrangements.

Additional Information

Job Title: Private Sector Housing Officer

Employment Type: Temporary

Location: Hackney, London

Full Work Address: To be confirmed

Working Arrangement: Office attendance, property inspections, travel and any hybrid-working arrangements are to be confirmed.

Start Date: 19 October 2026

End Date: 22 January 2027

Hours Per Week: To be confirmed

Pay Rate: £22.24 per hour – Umbrella

Positions Available: To be confirmed

Driving Requirement: The role may involve property visits; any requirement for a driving licence or vehicle access must be confirmed.

IR35: Status to be confirmed

DBS: Any required level of DBS or pre-employment screening is to be confirmed.

Job Types: Temporary contract

Pay: £22.24 per hour – Umbrella

Application question(s):

• Please describe your experience in private-sector housing, housing enforcement, environmental health or property standards.
• Do you have experience carrying out residential property inspections and progressing enforcement cases?
• Please give an example of a housing-condition case you investigated and how you achieved an appropriate outcome.
• Please confirm your current location and availability for work in Hackney.

Experience:

• Private-sector housing or housing enforcement: Preferred
• Property inspections: Preferred
• Housing legislation and regulatory casework: Strongly desirable
• Local authority experience: Advantageous

Qualifications:

• Relevant qualification in housing, environmental health, property, building surveying or a related field:Desirable
• Relevant housing enforcement or HHSRS training: Advantageous

Any mandatory qualification requirements should be confirmed against the client's official person specification.

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom – right to work required

Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

137479-10-26