Full Time, Permanent
Bristol is a vibrant city, with nearly 30% of Bristol's population living in the private rented sector. The City Council's Private Housing Service sets out to maintain and improve housing conditions in this sector.
As well as mandatory licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) there are additional licensing schemes (for smaller HMOs) covering all of Bristol, and selective licensing schemes affecting most other rented accommodation in five wards of the city.
To meet the needs of these schemes and new duties under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, the service is looking to recruit Private Housing Compliance Officers to work alongside Environmental Health Housing Officers, other Compliance Officers, Caseworkers and Housing Officers to:
- Inspect rented properties to check compliance with legal requirements.
- Identify hazards and defects, specify, schedule and monitor works.
- Investigate unlicensed properties and unregistered landlords and properties, taking enforcement action where necessary. Enforcement action can include informal action to Civil Penalty Notices (CPN) or prosecutions.
- Draft licence documents, including variations and revocations.
- Give advice to tenants, landlords and managing agents.
There may also be opportunities to work in other areas of the Private Housing Service for example:
Case work in relation to the remediation of fire safety defects in high and midrise privately owned residential buildings which includes:
-
- Identification of buildings which require remediation.
- Collection of information on the need for remediation and progress of remediation of buildings.
- Work with property agents, owners, leaseholders and in partnership with Avon Fire and Rescue Service.
- Compilation of cases to help take legal action to require the remediation of buildings.
Maintenance and update of databases.
-
-
- Investigation and resolution of service requests
- Inspection of rented properties, identifying hazards and defects, specify, schedule and monitor works.
- Taking enforcement action where necessary, in line with our enforcement policy objectives.
You must have relevant qualifications and or experience of working in the housing sector, as well as a basic knowledge of the legislation and regulations which apply to the private housing sector, as set out in the attached Person Specification.
For permanent appointments, a competence-based grading system means that there may be opportunities for you to develop your career and progress to a Senior Environmental Health Housing Officer role, through the completion of assessed competencies. Further details can be provided at interview. There may also be opportunities to work in other areas of the Private Housing Service.
Why Bristol City Council?
At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. Hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.
Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.
Our main office is modern and centrally located close to transport links (rail, bus and cycle hubs). The team is currently primarily home-based, with four-weekly office team days.
How to apply
If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey, please select the apply button below.
To be shortlisted for interview, you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.
We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.
Interview dates: 8th / 9th September 2026.
For further information, please contact Cara Guthrie (Private Housing Team Leader) by emailing [email protected] or Colin Martin (Private Housing Team Leader) by e-mailing: [email protected]
Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.
The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.
