The posting
Contract to start ASAP
Duration: 25 weeks with a possible extension.
Housing Standards Officer WCR 3 BASE
Hours: Full-time (36 hours per week)
Contract: 25 Week Temporary Contract, ending 8 April 2027
Help Improve Housing Conditions and Protect Residents Across Westminster
We're recruiting experienced Housing Standards Officers to join the City of Westminster Council, supporting the inspection, regulation, and improvement of housing conditions across the borough.
This is an excellent opportunity for candidates with experience in housing enforcement, environmental health, private sector housing, property inspections, housing standards, HHSRS, or local authority regulatory services.
You'll work closely with residents, landlords, managing agents, property owners, legal teams, environmental health colleagues, and other Council services to identify hazards, investigate complaints, enforce housing standards, and help ensure homes are safe and compliant.
About the Role
As a Housing Standards Officer, you'll carry out property inspections, assess housing conditions, investigate complaints, and take appropriate action where standards fall below legal requirements.
You'll use a combination of advice, negotiation, informal intervention, and formal enforcement to improve property conditions and protect residents from unsafe or unsuitable housing.
What you'll be doing:
- Inspecting residential properties to assess housing conditions and identify hazards
- Using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to assess risks to occupants
- Investigating complaints relating to disrepair, damp, mould, overcrowding, hazards, and poor housing conditions
- Taking appropriate enforcement action where landlords or property owners fail to address identified issues
- Preparing and serving statutory notices where required
- Monitoring compliance with notices and agreed remedial works
- Carrying out follow-up inspections to ensure required works have been completed
- Working with landlords and managing agents to improve housing conditions
- Providing clear advice to tenants, landlords, and property owners
- Investigating potential breaches of housing legislation
- Supporting enforcement action relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) where applicable
- Assessing property safety issues, including fire safety, electrical safety, heating, ventilation, and structural defects
- Investigating overcrowding and occupation concerns
- Maintaining accurate inspection records, case notes, photographs, and evidence
- Preparing case files and reports for legal or enforcement proceedings
- Working closely with legal services on complex or escalated cases
- Attending court or tribunal proceedings and providing evidence where required
- Liaising with Environmental Health, Planning, Housing, Building Control, and other Council teams
- Supporting residents living in poor or hazardous housing conditions
- Identifying safeguarding concerns and making appropriate referrals
- Providing professional advice on housing standards legislation and enforcement
- Managing a varied caseload and prioritising high-risk cases
- Contributing to service performance targets and improvement activity
Requirements
We're looking for experienced, confident, and technically knowledgeable Housing Standards Officers with strong inspection and enforcement skills.
You'll ideally have:
- Experience working in housing standards, private sector housing, environmental health, or housing enforcement
- Strong knowledge of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
- Experience carrying out residential property inspections
- Experience investigating housing condition complaints
- Knowledge of relevant housing and environmental health legislation
- Experience preparing and serving statutory notices
- Experience managing enforcement cases from investigation through to resolution
- Knowledge of Houses in Multiple Occupation and associated standards
- Experience dealing with damp, mould, disrepair, overcrowding, and property hazards
- Strong evidence-gathering and case-building skills
- Experience preparing reports, witness statements, or legal case files
- Confidence dealing with landlords, agents, residents, and property owners
- Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills
- Ability to manage difficult or sensitive situations professionally
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Ability to manage a high-volume caseload
- Experience using housing, environmental health, or regulatory case-management systems
- Local authority enforcement experience would be highly advantageous
- Relevant Environmental Health, Housing, Surveying, or property-related qualification would be advantageous
- Ability to undertake regular property inspections across Westminster
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Ability to provide three years of references/work history
- Ability to complete a Criminal Convictions Declaration
- Ability to sign a Confidentiality Agreement
Why Apply
- Excellent Umbrella rate of £50.00 per hour
- Opportunity to work with the City of Westminster Council
- Seven positions available
- 25-week temporary assignment
- Opportunity to improve housing conditions across Westminster
- Varied role combining inspections, enforcement, case management, and resident support
- Gain further local authority regulatory and housing experience
- Work alongside experienced Housing, Environmental Health, and Legal professionals
- Full-time 36-hour working week
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information
Client: City of Westminster Council
Job Title: Housing Standards Officer WCR 3 BASE
Location: City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, Westminster, SW1E 6QP
Start Date: 16 October 2026
Contract Duration: 25 weeks, ending 8 April 2027
Hours: 36 hours per week
Pay Rate: Umbrella: £50.00 per hour
Employment Type: Temporary
Number of Positions: 7
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 25 weeks
Pay: £50.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience working in housing standards, environmental health, private sector housing, or housing enforcement?
- Do you have practical experience using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)?
- Have you carried out residential property inspections and housing condition assessments?
- Do you have experience preparing or serving statutory enforcement notices?
- Are you experienced in dealing with damp, mould, disrepair, overcrowding, HMOs, or other housing hazards?
- Do you have experience preparing evidence, reports, or case files for legal or enforcement action?
- Please confirm your current location and whether you can reliably travel to City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP and undertake property inspections across Westminster.
Experience:
- Housing Standards / Private Sector Housing: 2 years (preferred)
- HHSRS / Property Inspections: 2 years (preferred)
- Housing Enforcement: 1 year (preferred)
- Local Authority Regulatory Services: 1 year (preferred)
Education:
- Relevant Housing, Environmental Health, Surveying, or Property qualification (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR118361-10-26
