Environmental Health Officer - Private Sector Housing
Job Type: Temporary, Part Time
Location: Hove Town Hall, BN3 3BQ
Hours: 15-21 hours per week
Hourly Rate: £30.40
Start Date: Monday, 21 July 2025
End Date: Tuesday, 31 March 2026
DBS Requirement: Standard DBS Check
About the Role
We are seeking a proactive and experienced Environmental Health Officer to join our Private Sector Housing team on a temporary basis. This role focuses on improving housing conditions and ensuring a safe, healthy environment for residents through inspections, enforcement, and collaborative work.
Principal Accountabilities
* Conduct inspections and investigations of housing conditions, including HMO licensing applications.
* Undertake proactive surveys and risk assessments to improve property standards.
* Draft and serve statutory notices under relevant housing legislation.
* Manage works in default, including supervision, certification, and payment recommendations.
* Support student training and sign off Environmental Health Officer logbooks.
* Prepare legal cases, take statements, and provide expert witness testimony as required.
* Lead or contribute to project work (e.g. landlord accreditation, EPCs, empty homes).
* Maintain accurate records using IT systems and ensure compliance with administrative procedures.
* Stay up to date with legal and technical developments and maintain CPD (if CIEH member).
* Represent the service in meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
* Deputise for the Senior Environmental Health Officer when required.
* Conduct assessments for other departments (e.g. immigration inspections, housing allocations).
* Review and comment on planning and building regulation applications from a housing perspective.
Essential criteria
* Environmental Health Officers are required to have a BSc degree, MSc degree, diploma or current equivalent in Environmental Health.
* A professional commitment to study for Registration with EHORB or any current equivalent, as well as membership of the CIEH.
* Continuing Professional Development post qualification every year, in line with requirements specified by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
* Competency training in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System
* Knowledge of current Housing Act and related legislation
* Knowledge of legal processes and evidential requirements of the civil and criminal courts and ability to conduct and report on formal interviews
* Knowledge of technical matters including, a good working knowledge of building design, construction, services and techniques, drainage, pest control, health and safety issues, relevant standards, codes of practice etc.
* Sufficient working knowledge of other Environmental Health Legislation and procedures, Building Regulation, Planning, Listed Buildings, and other procedures to facilitate meaningful and efficient co-operation and co-ordination with Environmental Health, Building Control, Planning, Conservation and Design, other relevant departments within the council and other agencies including, the Fire Authority, the Health and Safety Executive and statutory undertakers.
You will have:
* Experience of assessing risks and needs and judging the condition of properties using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Assessing issues that may be prejudicial to health, statutory nuisances etc. and of deciding the most satisfactory course of action.
* Experience of considering and analysing information from expert reports, including those on fire precautions, electrical, gas and water services and structural stability and condition.
* Experience of assessing the merits of cases and exercising judgement as to whether it is in the public interest to institute legal proceedings.
* Experience of inspecting and reporting in relevant situations including residential premises and their environment and of making practical and logical assessments to find the most reasonable and cost-effective way of dealing with the problems identified.
* Experience and range of knowledge to weigh the facts and implications of individual cases and to consider the full range of possible courses of action.
Please only apply if you meet the requirements!
Please be aware this advert will remain open until the vacancy has been filled. Interviews will take place throughout this period, therefore we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.
Tate is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.
Tate is committed to promoting equal opportunities. To ensure that every candidate has the best experience with us, we encourage you to let us know if there are any adjustments we can make during the application or interview process. Your comfort and accessibility are our priority, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Additionally, we value and respect your individuality, and we invite you to share your preferred pronouns in your application.