Private Sector Housing Officer

• Financial: An attractive basic salary within a clear pay structure. A starting salary of £35,237, increasing to £36,165 after one year’s service and £37,092 after 2 years’ service subject to manager approval. 
• An essential car user allowance: £1,000 per annum (pro-rata for part-time staff) 
• Holiday Entitlement: 24 days annual leave (increasing to 27 days after 5 years continuous Local Government service) plus three additional days in December and bank holidays. 
• Pension: Membership of the Local Government (CARE – Career Average (Revalued Earnings) Pension Scheme – Employer contribution of 16.8%. 
• Free staff parking. 
• Hybrid Working: Following successful completion of your probation, you will be able to work on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of two days each week in the office, subject to service requirements. 
• Access to HAPI an all-in-one benefits hub, giving you easy access to a wide range of employee perks, wellbeing support, discounts, and everyday savings.  
• Personal Development: Invaluable training opportunities for continuing professional development. 
• Employee Assistance Programme: The Council has partnered with Health Assured to provide staff with access to EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to assist in balancing everyday life with the requirement of work and home. 
• Learn more about working at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council: explore the kind of place we are, work that matters with people who care, and our pay, benefits, and hybrid working.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our busy expanding Private Sector Housing team, contributing to improving standards and health outcomes for our residents. 

Are you an experienced housing professional who can confidently assess property hazards, interpret legislation and take proportionate enforcement action? 

We are looking for a knowledgeable and motivated Private Sector Housing Officer. You will investigate complaints, apply housing standards and take enforcement action to make properties safe and healthy, particularly within privately rented homes. You will assist in the delivery of grants and financial assistance to adapt and repair properties, and energy efficiency initiatives to achieve low carbon and warm homes.

This is a varied, practical role where you will manage your own caseload, investigate concerns about housing conditions and work directly with tenants, landlords, managing agents and partner organisations. 

You will play an important part in delivering the Housing Services vision “to be more than a housing service. We are passionate about what we do, and we will work resourcefully and creatively as one team, going the extra mile to improve the lives and homes of our customers.” 

• Investigating complaints about disrepair, housing conditions and overcrowding. 
• Inspecting properties and assessing hazards using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. 
• Determining the most appropriate intervention in line with the Council’s Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy. 
• Advising landlords and managing agents on legal requirements.
• Supporting disabled facilities grants and other forms of housing assistance. 
• Helping to deliver energy-efficiency initiatives and improve standards in the private rented sector. 
• Maintaining clear, accurate and timely case records using relevant IT systems.  

You will plan your working day around a combination of case management and site visits. Inspections may be undertaken independently or alongside colleagues, including opportunities to share your knowledge and help develop junior members of the team. 

Contract: Full Time - Permanent Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

You will bring relevant experience of private sector housing enforcement and regulation within a local authority or an equivalent setting. You will also have practical experience of using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and preparing reports or specifications to address property disrepair.  

If you are confident in your professional judgement, committed to improving housing standards and able to see the wider issues behind the concerns raised by residents, we would be delighted to hear from you. 

Apply by 29 November 2026.  

Interviews are on 07 December 2026. 

A detailed list of responsibilities and person criteria for the role can be viewed in the Job Description and Person Specification below.   

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact David Green, Senior Private Sector Housing Officer, on 01892 554079 or David.Green@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

• PSHO Person Specification October 2026.doc -
• PSHO Job Description October 2026.doc -

£35,237 per annum