Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for an Empty Homes Officer to join our partnerships team. Engaging with property owners, community groups and stakeholders in the area, the successful candidate will bring long term and problematic empty properties in back into use, working closely alongside the private sector housing officers to promote good practice in the private rented sector.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic person who is a great team player with experience working with empty homes. The role requires excellent organisational and communication skills, being able to communicate with people on all levels including council members, colleagues, and members of the public, and a good level of effective IT skills. The post holder will be working with community groups and other stakeholders in the area to contribute to the overall improvement and will be responsible for liaising with private landlords and property owners to improve stock in the private rented sector through property improvement, good management practices and bringing empty properties back into use.

The Empty Homes Officer will be a dedicated resource to work intensively in a specific area as part of a targeted approach to bring empty homes back into use. This will include carrying out investigations into empty, privately owned properties and negotiating with their owners to bring them back into use using appropriate enforcement action including enforced sales, CPO’s and EDMO’s, using a range of initiatives through both voluntary and enforcement action to achieve the desired results.

The person we are looking for will:

• Be proactive in the role and have excellent communication skills.
• Have experience in empty homes and in carrying out investigations to source suitable solutions in bringing properties back into use.
• Be knowledgeable in legislation, policy, guidance, codes of practice, standards etc. relating to a range of legislative areas, keeping appraised of technical/scientific knowledge along with experience undertaking inspections, surveys and other investigations of properties under the Housing Act 2004 and other related legislation, as directed, along with attending court where necessary to attain legal orders for access to properties, and serve relevant notices.
• Hold a certificate of competency in performing HHSRS assessments and hazard identification.
• Provide specialist advice in relation to Empty Homes and aid the wider economic development.

A valid driving licence is essential as you will be required to visit empty properties in the local area.

This is a hybrid working contract, there is a requirement for some of duties to be carried out at home and some on site. Site attendance will constitute more than 40% of available working time.

Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, right to work in the UK check, medical clearance and DBS check.

Vivid Resourcing are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships or any other characteristic protected by law.