Environmental Health Officer (Housing)

Chesterfield Borough Council is currently seeking to appoint a Housing Environmental Health / Housing Standards officer to join its successful Private Sector Housing Team. The position will have a varied workload across reactive private sector housing complaints, private sector housing enforcement, and the licensing and inspection of Houses in Multiple Occupation.

The Team have been getting results in ensuring that the Private Rented Sector is providing safe and sustainable accommodation, unsafe and unlicensed properties are brought back into compliance, and that those who seek to benefit from criminal, rogue and irresponsible behaviours are dealt with in line with the Council's enforcement regime.

The successful candidate will be working across the Private Sector Housing functions and will regularly.

• Undertake inspections of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) using the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to identify disrepair, other non-compliance with local and statutory requirements and breaches of management standards.


• Provide clear and detailed advice in response to queries about the HMO licence application and enforcement of complex legislation and management regulations to a broad range of stakeholders.


• Prepare licence documentation and schedules which set out works required to bring properties up to statutory and council standards.


• Take action where necessary to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including the preparation and service of statutory notices, orders and demands in accordance with prescribed forms and procedures.


• Carry out investigations of unlicensed HMO premises, working with multi-agency partners as necessary, and collate evidence to support advice and for enforcement purposes.


• Carry out investigations of Empty Properties with the intentions of bringing them back into use.


• Working with key partners including the Police, Fire and Rescue, Immigration, HMRC and others, to ensure residents are safeguarded and afforded safe accommodation.


• Prepare paperwork for civil penalty offences and for prosecutions, give evidence at Court in the formal enforcement of statutory notices.


• Prepare papers and legal statements and represent the Council in First Tier Tribunal-Property Chamber (Residential Property) appeals and provide expert witness evidence., Confidence and passion to succeed in ensuring that our residents have safe and sustainable accommodation across the private rented sector.
  
  A degree in Environmental Health or related subject, or be able to demonstrate at least 3 years' experience in Private Sector Housing regulation/enforcement:


• EHRB registration and /or CIEH active membership


• Certificate of competency in application of the HHSRS regime.


• Knowledge of the Housing Act 2004, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), and the local authorities regulatory and enforcement powers in relation to HMOs and private sector housing conditions.


• Significant experience in applying the Housing Act 2004, including preparing enforcement cases through to First Tier Tribunal or Magistrates Court.