Job Description

The role

To lead the delivery of Harlow Council's damp, mould and disrepair surveying function, ensuring that cases are inspected, diagnosed, managed and resolved in line with statutory duties, Awaab's Law, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, the Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code, and the Council's repairs, damp and mould, disrepair and asset management policies.

The postholder will provide technical leadership and day-to-day line management for two Damp and Mould Surveyors and one Disrepair Surveyor, ensuring high-quality inspections, accurate diagnosis, effective case progression, clear resident communication and timely completion of remedial works.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, supervise and support two Damp and Mould Surveyors and one Disrepair Surveyor, including workload allocation, case reviews, performance monitoring and technical guidance
• Lead on complex damp, mould and disrepair cases, ensuring inspections are completed, root causes are identified, and appropriate remedial actions are specified
• Ensure damp and mould cases are assessed and progressed in line with Awaab's Law, HHSRS requirements, the Council's Damp, Mould and Environmental Issues Policy and relevant statutory timescales
• Oversee disrepair cases from inspection through to completion, working closely with Legal Services, complaints, repairs teams, contractors and housing management
• Carry out technical surveys, prepare schedules of work, identify hazards, assess risk and recommend suitable remedial, preventative or enforcement actions
• Ensure clear case ownership across damp, mould and disrepair cases, with accurate records, photographs, inspection notes, risk assessments and updates maintained on Council systems
• Monitor team performance against targets, including inspection timescales, case progression, post-inspections, completion of works, resident updates and closure outcomes
• Provide quality assurance on survey reports, schedules of work, contractor recommendations and completed works to ensure technical accuracy and consistency
• Work with repairs contractors and service providers to ensure works are raised, prioritised, completed and post-inspected where required
• Support the reduction of repeat damp and mould reports by identifying trends, root causes and opportunities for planned investment or preventative works
• Provide technical advice to housing management, complaints, customer resolution, legal, asset management and senior managers
• Ensure tenants and leaseholders receive clear, timely and appropriate communication about inspection findings, works required, timescales and aftercare advice
• Support vulnerable tenants and households with complex needs by ensuring risk, safeguarding and reasonable adjustment considerations are built into case management
• Prepare reports, case summaries, performance updates and briefings for managers, senior leadership, councillors, panels, complaints, legal proceedings or Ombudsman cases
• Ensure disrepair and damp and mould data is accurate, up to date and used to inform service improvement, contractor performance and planned maintenance programmes

The experience you will bring:

• Strong technical knowledge of damp, mould, condensation, water ingress, ventilation, building defects and housing disrepair
• Experience of diagnosing building defects within domestic housing, ideally within social housing or local authority housing
• Knowledge of Awaab's Law, HHSRS, landlord repairing obligations, the Decent Homes Standard, the Housing Ombudsman approach and relevant housing legislation
• Experience of managing or supervising staff, allocating workloads and supporting performance improvement
• Experience of preparing survey reports, specifications, schedules of work and technical recommendations
• Experience of working with contractors to deliver repairs and remedial works