The Service

The Private Sector Housing Team looks after the health, safety and welfare of all residents of Portsmouth. We do this through the provision of loans or grants to enable home owners or tenants to live in a safe home or through the use of the range of enforcement powers available to ensure landlords maintain their properties to the current standard as found within the Housing Act 2004. The Private Sector Housing team also deals with public health issues around the city and give tenant and landlord support through Housing Tenancy Rights Officers. The also team includes Homecheck and Telecare services.

Housing Renewals are a professional team of officers providing assistance to homeowners in Portsmouth - enabling disabled adaptations, as well as repairs and improvements of their homes to promote independent living. The ethos of "Better Housing Better Health" underpins what we do. By promoting decent living conditions free from significant hazards to health and safety found within a home, such as damp and mould growth, Electrical hazards or Structural collapse and falling elements, residents health can be improved.

What is the role?

This post is a fixed term contract or secondment covering maternity leave for up to 1 year or when the substantive postholder returns. You will be working proactively within the Housing Renewals team's home improvement agency service, undertaking building surveys, helping and encouraging homeowners to repair or adapt their property. You will be identifying works required, compiling a schedule of works, and helping the client through the tender process. You will also be advising on the financial assistance available from the council and meeting contractors on site to ensure the satisfactory completion of work.

Who is the person?

You need to:

1. Have a construction/ surveying related degree or equivalent.

2. Hold a full driving license, as driving is an essential part of the role.

3. Have knowledge of Housing Grants, specifically Disabled Facilities Grants, although this is not essential.

4. Have excellent people skills with the ability to resolve conflict, but have a sympathetic, friendly and empathetic manner to be able to understand the situations of our customers.

5. Have a sound knowledge of surveying residential property and be able to undertake a full property inspection using the Housing Health and Safety Rating system (HHSRS).

6. Have experience of applying for Planning permission and Building Regulations approval.

7. Be able to identify necessary property repairs and produce schedules of works.

8. Have experience of project managing building works.

9. Have excellent communication skills, as you will play a key role in working with our clients, their building contractors and allied professionals.

10. Have knowledge of the Housing Acts, Public Health Acts, Party Wall Etc Act, Building Regulations and Energy Surveys.

11. Have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Packages (to include Word, Outlook, Excel) and databases (we currently use Civica APP). Experience of using basic CAD programmes is also preferable.

12. Be highly self-motivated and able to organise and prioritise your own workload.

13. Have experience of writing technical reports.

14. Be able to inspect buildings and lofts and be comfortable working at heights.

15. Have good literacy and numeracy skills.

Closing time/date: 17:00, on the 30th October 2014. Applications received after this may not be considered. Interview process: 7th November 2014.