Description
Job Description & Person Specification >
There has never been a better time to join our team at Torbay Council. We have real momentum building and have a shared sense of purpose and ambition. Torbay is a fantastic place to live, work and visit, offering an unrivalled quality of life for individuals and families.
We’re looking for someone passionate about making a difference in Torbay’s homelessness and housing sector. This role supports tenants and landlords by providing expert advice and guidance on private rented tenancies, helping to prevent homelessness and improve housing standards. You’ll coordinate investigations into malpractice, manage enforcement actions under the Renters Rights Act 2025, and work closely with other agencies to uphold legal responsibilities. Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children is central to everything we do.
What You’ll Be Doing
In this role, you’ll be at the forefront of protecting tenants and improving housing standards in Torbay. You’ll:
* Deliver early interventions to prevent homelessness and support vulnerable individuals.
* Investigate complaints from tenants and assess whether landlords are acting within the law.
* Manage cases involving illegal evictions and unlawful landlord behaviour.
* Carry out property visits, gather evidence, and conduct formal interviews to support enforcement and legal action.
* Advise clients on their rights and next steps and work with other teams to secure appropriate housing outcomes.
* Take action to reinstate access to illegally excluded tenants and refer unsafe housing to the Housing Standards Team.
* Collaborate with other agencies to deliver flexible, responsive services that meet local needs.
* Champion safeguarding, ensuring the protection of vulnerable adults and children is embedded in everything you do.
We’re seeking a motivated and resilient professional who can work independently and as part of a team.
This is a dynamic role involving both office-based and field work. You’ll need to:
* Travel across Torbay and occasionally further afield.
* Work flexibly, including occasional out-of-hours duties.
* The role will require you to communicate with landlords and tenants who may be in conflict, and their behaviour therefore could present as challenging at times.
At Torbay Council, we’re committed to making a difference. You’ll be part of a supportive team that values innovation, collaboration, and community impact. We offer:
* Flexible working arrangements.
* Ongoing professional development.
* Access to a shared vehicle pool.
* A chance to shape the future of housing in Torbay.
This post meets the requirements for an Enhanced Criminal Record Check. This will show spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions which have not been filtered in line with legislation, plus any information held by local Police that is considered relevant to the role.
If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser:
https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/senior-private-rented-sector-investigation-and-enforcement-officer/
For an informal chat please contact Lianne Hancock on 07789650442 or lianne.hancock@torbay.gov.uk.
Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 05th January 2026.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Skills
Essential:
* Ability to problem solve and think and act creatively to apply different working solutions to ensure legislative compliance and value for money for the local authority.
* To undertake investigative interviews, this may also include those under legal caution, to enable an assessment of need and compliance with legislation.
* Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records to provide accountability, deliverability and to be used as evidence if required.
As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Knowledge
Essential:
* Current knowledge of homelessness legislation, Renters Rights Act, Case law, codes of practice and its application.
* Strong legislative background and knowledge of legal procedures and processes.
* Ability to critically assess if an offence has been committed under the relevant housing legislation and take action as required.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential:
* Experience of managing complex case work in a multi-agency environment and working in partnership.
* Conducting investigations, witness statements, conducting PACE interviews and collation of prosecution files.
Please review the available pages within the careers site .
A list of employer benefits can be found here .