Principal Housing Standards Officer - REQ005530

Job title: Principal Housing Standards Officer

Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839

Hours: Full time (37 hours per week)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Knowsthorpe Gate, LS9 0NP

Are you looking for a new challenge, passionate about improving housing standards, and experienced in regulating housing conditions in the Private Rented Sector? If so, Leeds City Council is recruiting to the position of Principal Housing Standards Officer.

Leeds City Council’s Private Rented Sector Service covers an estimated 80,000 homes across a wide range of housing types—from city‑centre high‑rise flats to student HMOs and older housing in lower‑demand areas. This variety means your work will remain interesting and offer opportunities to develop your skills while helping improve living conditions for local residents.

The service also operates some of the largest HMO and Selective Licensing schemes in the country, contributing to safer, better‑managed private rented homes.

As a Marmot City the service also works closely with its health partners to tackle health inequalities and deprivation and is also making a real difference on tackling criminality in the private rented sector which blights so many communities and destroys lives.

Leeds has worked closely with the government and other core cities on the introduction of the Renters Rights Act 2025, taking part in several pilots on the new legislation and helping develop new approaches to housing regulation.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Principal Housing Standards Officer, you will bring to the role:

A degree or diploma in Environmental Health, OR;
A comparable building related degree or; other housing qualification minimum Level 5, together with relevant work-based experience.
Competency to undertake inspections and enforcement actions in relation to housing legislation and the HHSRS.
Full driving licence and have the use of your own vehicle for work purposes.
Experience in inspections, enforcement and case management.
Strong communication skills and a genuine commitment to supporting local communities.

About the role

As our next Principal Housing Standards Officer, you will:

Inspect and regulate private sector housing to ensure it meets legal standards.
Investigate complaints and take enforcement action when required.
Manage more complex cases, including preparing prosecution files and tribunal bundles.
Work with a range of internal and external partners.
Contribute to improving processes and supporting education and awareness activities.
Take a specialist lead on projects.
Assist with the day to day running of the team and coach and mentor staff to meet their potentials

This role in integral to our private rented sector regulation team and would suit someone who is organised, motivated, and comfortable working in a varied and sometimes challenging environment. The role is predominantly office based with inspections city wide.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Career Growth

Clear Progression Path: With an expanding team of around 80 staff, there are plenty of opportunities to move up and lead on projects.
Continuous Development: The service invests in its people through training, coaching, and supporting staff on housing-specific qualifications from Level 4 to Level 6.

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Paul Broadhurst, Service Manager Call 0113 378 6331 or email Paul.Broadhurst@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

The Principal Housing Standards Officer is a generic post having responsibility for delivering solutions to a wide range of activities within private sector housing but associated primarily with housing standards and the inspection of residential premises.

In addition, duties may also include the investigation of complaints relating to housing standards, environmental enforcement and associated functions. The work will be undertaken with the support of colleagues within a Housing team focussed upon helping to deliver the Councils strategic outcomes, through specialist delivery mechanisms. The postholder will be expected to carry out more complex duties, provide support and, depending on team needs, supervisory support.

Responsibilities

Operations

To carry out duties which relate to the work of the Private Rented Sector Service with specific duties relating to the regulation and inspection of private sector properties to ensure properties meet the minimum legal standards. Duties could include such activity as the delivery of financial assistance to private owners, addressing standards in the private rental sector and dealing with empty homes.
Investigation and resolution of service requests, both proactive and reactive, using all available statutory and non-statutory measures, which may include the use of; Notices; Prosecutions; Civil Penalties; warnings; informal advice; education; and imaginative solutions to resolve problems.
Investigate, resolve and help coordinate requests of a more complex nature and ensure proper coordination of work with specialist teams on cases which require support.
To prepare cases for prosecution/civil penalties and attend court/tribunals when appropriate and provide guidance to other staff in preparation of their cases.
Following up cases to ensure that required actions are properly complied with in the relevant timescales.
Attending meetings as necessary and representing the service as directed
Providing information, statistics and reports on activities undertaken
Develop and assist with education programmes, briefing sessions and publicity campaigns
Effective and prompt liaison with partnership organisations
To assist with the development and improvement of processes and procedures, such as quality assurance, customer care, service delivery etc.
To take a specialist lead on projects, training of other members of the service or in developing areas of work as necessary to provide support to the Service Manager
To assist with the day to day running of the team including appraisals and managing attendance as appropriate

Finance

To adhere to the Council’s Financial Regulations, Standing Orders and achieve best value for money.

Information

To ensure accurate interpretation of legislation, guidance and relevant technical information to maintain consistency of decision making and action.
To accurately record information using databases and other systems and provide accurate information, including technical reports.
Maintaining electronic and paper records of inspections, interviews, visits, meetings etc.
Providing information, statistics and reports on activities undertaken
To produce accurate accurately detailed and complex reports for Senior Managers and attend Committees and Boards of Elected Members to present reports as appropriate.

People

Supporting the development of the team.
Liaison with all relevant partners on a regular basis to resolve problems.
To communicate any concerns which arise in the course of normal duties to other staff members, including managers.
Any other similar duties commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the post.
To assist in the recruitment and selection process

Qualifications

A degree or diploma in Environmental Health and a valid certificate of registration awarded by the CIEH Registration Board or comparable building related degree or other housing qualification and relevant work based experience

To be competent to undertake inspections and enforcement actions under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Knowledge of all aspects of licensing under the Housing Act 2004

Essential requirements

Operations

Show a passion and commitment to work with the public, businesses and partners, in both supporting and enforcement roles, in order to improve the quality of life for citizens of Leeds and help to deliver the strategic outcomes of the Council
To be able to carry out all duties which relate to the work of private sector housing regarding the regulation and inspection of privately owned properties.
To be able to demonstrate full knowledge of and competence in undertaking housing inspections and taking enforcement actions under the provisions of the various Housing Acts including the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
Possess experience, knowledge and understanding of the statutory and non statutory techniques available to resolve issues experienced by the public and improve their quality of housing.
Experience of managing own case work within the relevant timescales and following up cases to ensure that required actions are properly complied
Experience of investigating, resolving and coordinating requests of a more complicated nature and ensure proper coordination of work with specialist teams on cases which require support.
Ability to prepare cases for prosecution/civil penalties and attend court/tribunals when appropriate and provide guidance to other staff in preparation of their cases.
Experience of contributing to the development and improvement of processes and procedures, such as quality assurance, customer care, service delivery etc.
Knowledge of prosecution disclosure procedures.
Experience of education programmes, briefing sessions and publicity campaigns
To have experience of frequent contact with local communities, private landlords, tenants and Ward Councillors
Experience of liaising with partnership organisations
Experience of attending and contributing to relevant meetings
Experience of maintaining electronic and paper records of interviews, visits, inspections, meetings and any other matters relating to cases and provision of information, statistics and reports
Commitment to undertake all work in compliance with the Council’s Financial Regulations and Standing Orders as well as Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety policies
A degree or diploma in Environmental Health and a valid certificate of registration awarded by the CIEH Registration Board or comparable building related degree or other housing qualification and relevant work based experience
The ability to lead on specialist projects, training of other members of the service or in developing areas of work as necessary to provide support to the Service Manager
Other matters relating to the Directorate’s activities which are compatible with the responsibilities of the post

Finance

To adhere to the Council’s Financial Regulations, Standing Orders and achieve best value for money.

Information

To be able to interpret legislation, guidance and relevant technical information accurately and consistently while keeping aware of proposed changes.
To be able to accurately record information using databases and other systems as used by the service and provide accurate information including detailed technical reports.

People

To be able to communicate effectively to a wide range of people.
To work closely with and other staff, MPs, elected members, members of the public, businesses, the private sector and their representatives
To have a willingness to develop self and help develop others while working as team for Leeds.
Understand the requirements needed to support the manager in maintaining/running and developing the team.
To be confident in having frequent contact with the private sector, partners and local Ward Councillors

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements

Membership of a professionally recognised body i.e. CIEH
An additional recognised technical qualification relevant to private sector housing
Experience of supervising staff including personal development plans, appraisals and managing attendance
To have experience in maintaining/running and developing a team.

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