Property Standards Officer

The role

You will work within the busy Private Sector Housing Team, delivering a proactive and reactive investigative service, which will be key to the Council’s success in tackling rogue landlords and improving private sector housing standards and conditions. You will be investigating and licensing mandatory and additionally licensed HMOs, monitoring and bringing empty properties back into use, enforcing renters’ rights, tackling illegal eviction and investigating property standards complaints and completing HHSRS assessments and enforcing minimum energy efficiency standards.

You will be required to undertake enforcement action, prepare evidence, and attend Court where appropriate.

The role will use your specialist, technical and professional knowledge to help deliver a high‑quality customer service and to ensure that the council can meet its relevant statutory obligations. You will provide specialist advice and support both internally and externally while using good judgement to avoid risk, make decisions and resolve complex issues in the interests of the council and its customers.

• To have at least 2 years’ experience in Private Sector Housing or a comparable role.
• To have a good standard of Education including English and Maths GCSE.
• Knowledge of the Housing Act 2004, HMO, Gas Safety, Electrical Safety, Smoke Detector, Renters Rights 2025 and EPC regulations.
• Knowledge of illegal evictions.
• Knowledge of HMO licensing and the associated legislative and Council requirements.
• Ability to provide technical property/building advice to a broad range of customers.
• Excellent IT and communication skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative without close supervision.
• Ability to travel within Worcester, at times, outside the City is essential.
• Strong team player.

• Experience in carrying out property standards inspections, carrying out HHSRS assessments, producing work schedules, monitoring compliance, investigations and enforcement.
• Experience in carrying out HMO inspections, producing work schedules, monitoring compliance, investigations and enforcement.
• Experience in working with landlords, tenants and agents.
• Experience with working with partner agencies.
• Experience of keeping accurate records.
• Experience in managing your own caseloads and meeting key performance targets.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to explain legislation, policies and the Council’s requirements to a broad range of customers.
• Ability to make recommendations for enforcement work, serving notices and attending court.
• Ability to make and communicate difficult decisions which sometimes may involve potentially confrontational situations that require a high degree of tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to make decisions on own initiative where necessary.
• Excellent organisational, administrative, prioritisation and time management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to undertake lone working home visits and attend meetings across the city and, occasionally, the county.
• To be able to maintain up‑to‑date knowledge in building construction, legislation, Government Guidance, Council policy and best practice.

For further information about the role, please contact Ismene Broad, Private Sector Team Manager, at i