Housing Standards Manager – AR

Job Details

Housing Standards Manager

Job Summary

The Housing Standards Manager will lead a small team responsible for ensuring the Council meets its statutory housing duties across all tenures within the borough. The role focuses on improving housing quality, safety and compliance through a combination of advice, assistance, licensing and enforcement. You will also lead key workstreams including empty homes, housing financial assistance, and home energy efficiency, ensuring services adapt to changing legislation such as the Renters (Reform) Act 2025.

Key Responsibilities

Service & Team Leadership

  • Lead, manage and develop the Housing Standards Team, ensuring high-quality delivery of services
  • Allocate workloads, monitor performance and quality assure casework
  • Provide coaching, supervision and professional development to staff

Housing Enforcement & Compliance

  • Oversee Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) inspections and enforcement action
  • Manage formal enforcement processes including improvement notices, prohibition orders, civil penalties, rent repayment orders and prosecutions
  • Liaise with Legal Services and represent the Council at tribunals or court where required
  • Ensure effective HMO and other housing licensing compliance

Housing Standards & Casework

  • Oversee investigation of complaints regarding poor housing conditions
  • Produce inspection reports, schedules of work and enforcement recommendations
  • Ensure appropriate action is taken in line with legislation and Council policy

Financial Assistance & Grants

  • Oversee Housing Financial Assistance schemes in collaboration with partners
  • Manage enquiries, assessments, means testing and property inspections
  • Approve works, ensure value for money and monitor staged payments

Empty Homes & Strategy

  • Lead the Council’s Empty Homes Strategy and initiatives to reduce long-term empty properties
  • Work with stakeholders to bring empty homes back into use

Policy, Performance & Systems

  • Develop and maintain Housing Enforcement and Financial Assistance policies
  • Manage ICT systems used by the team, including upgrades and improvements
  • Monitor performance data and report outcomes to senior management

Energy Efficiency & Compliance

  • Lead on home energy efficiency, fuel poverty reduction and compliance with energy-related legislation
  • Support delivery of the Home Energy Conservation Act requirements

Stakeholder & Customer Engagement

  • Work collaboratively with landlords, tenants, agencies and internal teams
  • Respond to FOI requests, complaints, MP and Councillor enquiries
  • Promote compliance and good housing standards across the borough

Person Specification (Summary)

  • Environmental Health degree (or equivalent) and CIEH registration
  • Significant experience in local authority housing enforcement
  • Strong knowledge of HHSRS, HMO licensing and housing legislation
  • Proven experience managing a team and delivering statutory services
  • Ability to undertake inspections, produce reports and manage enforcement action
  • Strong communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills
  • Experience with case management systems and reporting tools
  • UK driving licence and access to a vehicle required