Principal Private Sector Housing Officer
| Posting date: | 29 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41.91 to £55.00 per hour |
| Additional salary information: | PAYE: £41.91 per hour Limited/Umbrella: £55.00 per hour |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 28 February 2026 |
| Location: | Uxbridge, London |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Neway International Ltd |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | RQ1683575 |
Summary
Neway International are seeking a Principal Private Sector Housing Officer to join our client London Borough of Hillingdon within Resident Services.
Location: London Borough of Hillingdon
Hours: 36 per week
About the Client
The London Borough of Hillingdon’s Resident Services directorate delivers essential housing and enforcement functions across the borough. The Private Sector Housing team plays a critical role in ensuring that homes in the private rented sector are safe, compliant, and well‑managed. The service focuses on prevention, enforcement, and partnership working to protect residents and uphold housing standards.
The Role
The Principal Private Sector Housing Officer will lead on complex casework, inspections, enforcement activity, and licensing processes across the private rented sector. The role requires a high level of technical expertise, strong investigative skills, and the ability to apply housing legislation effectively. You will support the delivery of a responsive, risk‑based service that improves housing conditions, ensures compliance, and protects vulnerable residents.
This position involves site visits, inspections, enforcement action, and close liaison with landlords, managing agents, partner agencies, and internal teams. Flexibility to work outside core hours for targeted enforcement activity may be required.
Key Responsibilities
Lead on complex inspections and investigations across the private rented sector, including Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Assess housing conditions using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and determine appropriate enforcement action.
Draft and issue statutory notices, schedules of work, civil penalties, and enforcement documentation in line with legislation and the Council’s scheme of delegation.
Process property licence applications, including inspection, assessment of management standards, and recommendations for approval or refusal.
Investigate breaches of housing legislation and prepare evidence for enforcement action, including cautions, civil penalties, Rent Repayment Orders, and prosecutions.
Attend court and tribunal hearings as a professional witness.
Provide specialist advice to landlords, agents, residents, and internal stakeholders on housing standards and legal requirements.
Maintain accurate case records, reports, and data to support monitoring, decision‑making, and performance management.
Contribute to policy development, service planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support the induction, mentoring, and development of colleagues and apprentices where required.
Work collaboratively with internal departments and external partners to resolve complex housing issues.
Provide information for FOI requests, member enquiries, and senior management briefings.
Participate in targeted enforcement activities outside standard office hours when required.
Candidate Requirements
Degree, diploma, or equivalent relevant operational experience in a related field.
Formal training in investigative skills or equivalent experience.
Strong practical and theoretical knowledge of private sector housing legislation and enforcement.
Broad experience applying environmental health and housing legislation to improve standards in the private rented sector.
Experience preparing statutory notices, reports, enforcement documentation, and evidence for legal proceedings.
Experience presenting to internal and external stakeholders.
Experience acting as a witness in court or tribunal settings.
Ability to prioritise workload, meet deadlines, and work under pressure.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high‑quality reports and correspondence.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with vulnerable residents.
Knowledge of Health & Safety responsibilities relevant to the role.
UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle.
Willingness to work outside core hours when required.
Location: London Borough of Hillingdon
Hours: 36 per week
About the Client
The London Borough of Hillingdon’s Resident Services directorate delivers essential housing and enforcement functions across the borough. The Private Sector Housing team plays a critical role in ensuring that homes in the private rented sector are safe, compliant, and well‑managed. The service focuses on prevention, enforcement, and partnership working to protect residents and uphold housing standards.
The Role
The Principal Private Sector Housing Officer will lead on complex casework, inspections, enforcement activity, and licensing processes across the private rented sector. The role requires a high level of technical expertise, strong investigative skills, and the ability to apply housing legislation effectively. You will support the delivery of a responsive, risk‑based service that improves housing conditions, ensures compliance, and protects vulnerable residents.
This position involves site visits, inspections, enforcement action, and close liaison with landlords, managing agents, partner agencies, and internal teams. Flexibility to work outside core hours for targeted enforcement activity may be required.
Key Responsibilities
Lead on complex inspections and investigations across the private rented sector, including Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Assess housing conditions using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and determine appropriate enforcement action.
Draft and issue statutory notices, schedules of work, civil penalties, and enforcement documentation in line with legislation and the Council’s scheme of delegation.
Process property licence applications, including inspection, assessment of management standards, and recommendations for approval or refusal.
Investigate breaches of housing legislation and prepare evidence for enforcement action, including cautions, civil penalties, Rent Repayment Orders, and prosecutions.
Attend court and tribunal hearings as a professional witness.
Provide specialist advice to landlords, agents, residents, and internal stakeholders on housing standards and legal requirements.
Maintain accurate case records, reports, and data to support monitoring, decision‑making, and performance management.
Contribute to policy development, service planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support the induction, mentoring, and development of colleagues and apprentices where required.
Work collaboratively with internal departments and external partners to resolve complex housing issues.
Provide information for FOI requests, member enquiries, and senior management briefings.
Participate in targeted enforcement activities outside standard office hours when required.
Candidate Requirements
Degree, diploma, or equivalent relevant operational experience in a related field.
Formal training in investigative skills or equivalent experience.
Strong practical and theoretical knowledge of private sector housing legislation and enforcement.
Broad experience applying environmental health and housing legislation to improve standards in the private rented sector.
Experience preparing statutory notices, reports, enforcement documentation, and evidence for legal proceedings.
Experience presenting to internal and external stakeholders.
Experience acting as a witness in court or tribunal settings.
Ability to prioritise workload, meet deadlines, and work under pressure.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high‑quality reports and correspondence.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with vulnerable residents.
Knowledge of Health & Safety responsibilities relevant to the role.
UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle.
Willingness to work outside core hours when required.