Housing Disrepair Lawyer - AR

Housing Disrepair Lawyer - Harlow Council

Harlow, Essex

Full time, Temporary

6 Month Contract

£42.89 PAYE / £55.00 Umbrella

Applications Closing Date: Monday 8th December 2025

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Harlow Council to recruit a temporary Housing Disrepair Lawyer. Please note that this post requires the successful individual to be based on site at least 1 day per week. Harlow is a district of contrasts and an ideal location to both live and work. The town itself is thriving, with excellent shopping and leisure facilities for all ages. We have good road links to the M11 and M25 and excellent rail connections to London and Stansted Airport, just 35 minutes and 20 minutes away from Harlow respectively.

Job Purpose:

The Council seeking a dynamic housing lawyer with focus on housing disrepair. The candidate will have a caseload of around 90 cases at various different stages of the legal process. The candidate should have a can-do attitude and be willing to assist and mentor junior members of the team. This is a full time role, with office attendance required in the office at least once a week. The candidate should also be willing to attend court to cover their own preliminary hearings, when necessary.

Duties Include but Not Limited to -

• Managing a high volume of housing disrepair claims, ensuring all matters comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
• To provide legal advice, assistance and guidance to Council client departments, Chief Officers Members and officers
• Negotiating settlements as necessary
• Representing the Local Authority in court hearings, such as directions and allocation hearings and instructing Counsel as necessary
• Drafting legal documentation pleadings and agreements.
• Collaborating with surveyors, contractors, and internal teams to resolve disrepair issues efficiently.
• Keeping up-to-date with housing law and relevant case law to ensure compliance and best practice.
• To undertake any and all statutory and delegated duties as required.
• To advance promote and assist in the shaping and development of the delivery of Legal Services.
• To carry out such other duties as may be allocated time to time by the Director Legal & Governance and Principal Solicitor
• To develop and maintain good relationships with internal and external partners and (as appropriate) with external professionals
• To assist with the training and supervision of junior staff or other officers within the legal department as required.
• To keep informed of developments in areas fields of law of immediate concern to the Council and to advise the Council, Chief Officer, Senior Management, Client Departments, Officers Statutory Directors and Members as appropriate.
• To undertake other duties commensurate with the grade, skills, knowledge and experience of the post holder.

Other duties

• To ensure compliance with the Council's record and information management policies and procedures.
• To demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding children young people and vulnerable adults.
• All staff are expected to have regard and operate within the Council's commitment to equality and diversity and customer care.
• All staff are expected to adhere to requirements of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and The Data Protection Act 2018 and comply with measures to protect the confidentiality of information in accordance with Council policies and procedures.
• All staff are expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• Not to intentionally interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety.