Principal Private Sector Housing Officer – Licencing

Principal Private Sector Housing Officer – Licencing

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: £47,181 – £50,269 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Principal Private Sector Housing Officer – Licencing to provide professional leadership within our Private Sector Housing Enforcement Service. This key senior role leads a multifunctional team of officers responsible for licensing relevant residential premises, providing expert advice, undertaking inspections and enforcing all relevant housing legislation delegated to the service.

• Provide professional leadership within the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Service, leading a multifunctional team of officers.
• Licenciate relevant residential premises, provide expert advice, undertake inspections and enforce relevant housing legislation.
• Undertake and oversee complex licensing cases and investigations, providing supervision, guidance and support to junior colleagues.
• Maintain high standards of practice, support staff development and ensure licensing decisions and enforcement actions are robust and defensible.
• Identify and implement service improvement initiatives, plan and deliver enforcement and service‑specific projects.
• Collaborate with the Private Sector Housing Manager to shape service delivery, improve outcomes for residents and respond effectively to legislative and operational challenges.

You have substantial experience managing a broad range of complex licensing cases and investigations within a Private Sector Housing Enforcement environment, with in‑depth knowledge across private sector housing licensing and enforcement matters. You demonstrate supervisory and management experience, including responsibility for staff performance monitoring, professional development and the provision of clear guidance and support to a team.

You possess strong communication skills, working effectively with diverse individuals, agencies and professionals, demonstrating tact, discretion and confidence when dealing with sensitive or challenging situations. You exercise sound professional judgment when undertaking complex investigations, analysing problems and infringements, establishing facts and taking appropriate action in accordance with legislative requirements. You plan activities, prioritise workloads, manage resources to meet deadlines and targets, and possess substantial current knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, including criminal court procedures.

You are educated to Diploma or Degree level (or equivalent recognised qualification) and evidence a strong commitment to continuing professional and personal development.

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no‑one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough.

Because of the nature of this job, appropriate level of criminal record disclosure is required. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and applicants must declare all unspent cautions and convictions, including adult cautions and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Act. Failure to disclose such offences can result in dismissal or disciplinary action.

Vacancy may be closed early due to a very high number of applications.

• 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
• Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
• Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
• Pension scheme: generous employer contributions of up to 20.2% (at July 2023) and 3× salary death in service grant
• Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
• Employee Assistance Programme: free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support to employees, partner/spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
• Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible; requests for flexible working arrangements, part‑time hours and alternative working patterns are welcomed
• Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
• Staff offers: discounts on MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
• Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel

We understand that job applications take time and effort, and a high‑quality application demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail. Our recruiting manager may receive many applications, so you need to stand out. Please visit our “

How to apply

” page for tips on submitting a strong application.