Lead Private Sector Housing Manager

Lead Private Sector Housing Manager

Do you believe everyone deserves a safe, secure, and good-quality home? Are you an experienced housing or environmental health professional ready to lead, influence, and shape the future of the private rented sector?

This is a rare opportunity to join Canterbury City Council in a leadership role at a time of major national reform, including implementation of the Renters' Rights Act. As Lead Private Sector Housing Manager, you will provide professional leadership across a complex statutory service, combining deep technical expertise with strategic vision.

What's in it for You

• Competitive salary from £61,645.19 (plus £3,621 car allowance)
• Annual cost-of-living pay award
• Flexible, hybrid working arrangements
• Generous annual leave starting at 26 days increasing to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus 3 additional days over Christmas, with the option to buy more
• Local government pension scheme
• Support and encouragement for your career through excellent training and development opportunities, including cover of a Professional Body Membership fee where needed
• Employee perks, including multiple retailer and lifestyle discounts
• An easier commute: free use of Canterbury's Park and Ride, flexi bus tickets, and a cycle to work scheme
• Access to free counselling, advice and webinars through the employee assistance programme, plus contributions towards the cost of flu jabs

About this Role

This role provides strategic and operational leadership for Private Sector Housing within Locality Services, reporting to the Head of Locality Services. You will lead a complex statutory service at a time of significant national reform, including implementation of the Renters' Rights Act, by setting clear direction, developing policy, assuring compliance and driving continuous service improvement.

You will lead and support a multidisciplinary team, manage significant budgets and resources, and act as the Council's expert adviser on housing regulation, enforcement, contractor management and policy. A key part of the role will be building strong relationships with stakeholders, government bodies and the wider community, representing Canterbury City Council at officer, member and public meetings to advance housing standards and strategic priorities.

In this Role You Will Be

• Leading the Private Sector Housing Team
• Delivering statutory housing functions
• Leading implementation of the Renters' Rights Act
• Setting long-term objectives and monitoring service performance
• Delivering stock condition survey programmes
• Overseeing Disabled Facilities Grants and adaptations within the Council's own housing stock
• Managing the Social Letting Agency
• Partnership working and representing the team at officer, member and public meetings

Working Pattern

• Full-time, 37 hours per week
• Flexible, hybrid working arrangements
• A full week off over Christmas in addition to your annual leave allowance

About You

Your qualifications: Degree or professional qualification in Environmental Health, Housing, Surveying or a related field; leadership or management training. Due to the nature of this role, an enhanced DBS check and references will be required for the successful applicant.

Your knowledge: Demonstrable knowledge of the Renters' Rights Act 2025, Housing Act 2004, Housing & Planning Act 2016, HHSRS and related statutory frameworks; understanding of the scope and role of regulatory codes of practice, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act; extensive knowledge of construction, building engineering services, materials and common property defects; and understanding of contract and procurement processes relevant to Disabled Facilities Grants and works in default.

Your experience: Extensive management experience within local authority housing, private sector housing, environmental health or another regulatory service; experience leading multidisciplinary teams, setting service priorities and driving improvement in a complex statutory environment; experience managing budgets, contractors and commissioned works, including Disabled Facilities Grants, adaptations or works in default; and experience communicating confidently with a range of audiences and influencing strategic direction across the private rented sector.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Statement

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in everything we do. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is valued, included, and respected. Our diversity strengthens our ability to serve the diverse communities we support through our work. To demonstrate this through our actions, all applications are anonymised for the shortlisting panel, allowing all applicants to be assessed on merit alone.

For more information about this role, please contact Lora McCourt, Head of Locality Services, by email to lora.mccourt@canterbury.gov.uk, who would very much welcome the opportunity to speak with you as a potential candidate.

Closing date: Thursday 30th July 2026. Interviews are planned to take place on 7 August 2026.