Technical Officer – Private Sector Housing

  • Shefford, UK
  • Central Bedfordshire Council
  • Full-Time
  • On-Site
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Job Description:

Technical Officer – Private Sector Housing

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: Central Bedfordshire Council
Service Area: Adult Social Care & Housing / Housing Services / Private Sector Housing

Hours: 37 hours per week

Working Pattern:
Monday to Friday
9:00am to 5:00pm
Hybrid working

Start Date: 20 July 2026
Duration: 52 weeks

Location

Office Base:
Monks Walk
Chicksands
Shefford
Central Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ

Pay

£43.07 per hour

Job Overview

Central Bedfordshire Council is seeking an experienced Technical Officer / Private Sector Housing Officer to support the Private Sector Housing Team.

The role will focus on regulating and improving conditions in private sector homes across Central Bedfordshire. The successful candidate will use statutory powers to assess, investigate and resolve complaints relating to private sector housing standards, illegal evictions, harassment, public health matters and other housing-related issues.

This role requires strong knowledge of construction, housing legislation and enforcement standards, along with experience managing complex and varied private sector housing casework.

Important – Please Read Carefully

This is a specialist Private Sector Housing / Environmental Health / Housing Standards role.

Candidates must have experience using statutory powers to regulate private sector housing conditions and should understand relevant housing legislation, including the Housing Acts 1996 and 2004.

The role involves complex housing casework, enforcement action, housing standards inspections, complaint investigation, landlord/tenant liaison, Disabled Facilities Grant support and wider Housing Assistance work.

Candidates without private sector housing, housing standards, enforcement, construction or housing legislation experience are unlikely to be considered.

Key Responsibilities

  • Use statutory powers to regulate and improve conditions in private sector homes
  • Investigate complaints relating to private sector housing standards
  • Assess housing conditions and identify required action
  • Take enforcement action where necessary in line with the Council's Enforcement Policy
  • Support delivery of the Council's Housing Assistance policy and programmes
  • Support delivery of mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants and discretionary housing assistance
  • Deal with complaints relating to illegal evictions, harassment and public health matters
  • Liaise with homelessness and housing register teams where required
  • Provide expert advice to residents, landlords, letting agents and stakeholders
  • Manage a varied and complex private sector housing caseload
  • Carry out face-to-face customer interactions
  • Maintain accurate records and data entry
  • Act as a first point of contact for customers using relevant services
  • Support colleagues and Private Sector Housing management
  • Work with internal council staff, elected members and external customers
  • Liaise with service suppliers, parish councils, voluntary agencies and community groups
  • Work with private landlords and letting agents
  • Support housing renewal objectives and environmental sustainability
  • Maximise public and private investment in the housing stock
  • Work flexibly according to business needs
  • Undertake regular work-related travel

Essential Experience & Skills

  • Experience in private sector housing, environmental health, housing standards or housing enforcement
  • Knowledge of Housing Act 1996, Housing Act 2004 and related housing legislation
  • Knowledge of construction and housing-related standards
  • Competence in enforcing legal housing standards
  • Experience carrying out housing inspections or property assessments
  • Experience investigating housing complaints
  • Experience dealing with private landlords and letting agents
  • Experience managing complex and varied casework
  • Ability to use statutory powers and enforcement procedures appropriately
  • Understanding of illegal eviction, harassment and public health matters
  • Knowledge of Disabled Facilities Grants or Housing Assistance programmes
  • Ability to provide expert advice to a range of customers and stakeholders
  • Strong record keeping and data entry accuracy
  • Good time management and caseload management skills
  • Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to deal with challenging situations professionally
  • Awareness of health and safety risks when visiting properties
  • Ability to work alone and travel regularly for work
  • Ability to support and advise colleagues and management

Desirable

  • Environmental Health Practitioner background
  • Technical Officer experience within a local authority Private Sector Housing team
  • HHSRS experience
  • Experience with enforcement notices and legal case preparation
  • Experience delivering DFG or discretionary housing assistance schemes
  • Experience liaising with homelessness, housing register or housing solutions teams
  • Experience working with vulnerable residents
  • Knowledge of environmental sustainability and housing renewal programmes

Additional Information

The role involves regular work-related travel.

The post may involve exposure to challenging working conditions, including adverse environmental conditions, verbal abuse, lone working, hazardous substances and emotionally difficult situations.

Interview will be held online.

Candidate submission deadline is 08 July 2026.

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 Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference

OR106129