Job description
About you:
You might be a career Environmental Health Technician, or someone on the way to being a qualified Environmental Health Officer, but in either case you will above all things have a passion to improve people’s lives through the practice of Environmental Health. You will be knowledgeable in regards to the Housing Act 2004 and the associated regulations, the Renters Rights Act 2025, as well as sound in the theory and practice of statutory nuisance. You will be methodical and diligent, and be an effective communicator with all types of people, in a number of mediums such as the written word, in person, or on the telephone. Your manner will be friendly and open, and the ability to deal with conflict in a calm rational manner will be second nature to you. A strong drive to use your own initiative will be present. A working knowledge and experience of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System is essential. A Driver’s License is essential.
About the role:
Reporting to the Principal Environmental Health Officer role involves dealing with service demands in relation to housing standards, the inspection of Houses in Multiple Occupation, participating in the education of landlords and tenants and liaison with third parties. The role will involve some cross working with Environmental Protection on Statutory Nuisance cases from time to time. A moderate degree of after hours working is a part of the job. The person taking up the role would be expected to deal with cases from start to finish, with the assistance of the Principal EHO and the EHO as and when necessary. The ability to manage a caseload and show initiative is integral to this role, as is the ability to work as part of the small Private Sector Housing team and the wider Housing Service. The role will involve the service of statutory notices appropriate for the role, and participation in prosecutions and court proceedings (commensurate to the role) will be part of the job.
About the team:
The Private Sector Housing Team comprises a Principal EHO, EHO, Housing Officer and Environmental Health Technicians. The primary work of the team involves maintaining and improving standards of housing in the Private Rented Sector, and for the most part this involves using Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 and Part 2 in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation. We are also involved in Statutory Nuisance work in rented residential properties. We are strongly inspection focussed; good inspection practice and recording of the results of those inspections is the foundation of almost all of the work of the team. We are a team that uses statutory enforcement where it in necessary. We do not operate in districts; all officers cover all parts of Exeter. We are a team that works in concert with the Neighbourhoods Team and are able to assist that team as necessary with statutory enforcement work and monitoring. Finally we are a friendly welcoming team with a strong social aspect.