The Company
We're a housing association that provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with a place they can call home. We're a values-driven organisation, with a clear vision, a social purpose and a commitment to investing in people, place and property. We believe everyone has the right to live in a good quality home they can afford and invest millions of pounds every year in keeping our existing homes safe, secure, and compliant.
We're also playing our part in addressing the UK housing crisis locally, by building hundreds of new, modern and contemporary homes for rent in Sunderland - homes that meet the needs of local people. Not only do we provide vital housing - we support our tenants, residents and communities by investing in services that help people live their best possible life.
This includes helping people to work, victims of domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour, young people to live independently, as well as a wellbeing service that supports our elderly tenants and residents.
About the role:
Gentoo is a values-led, charitable organisation that provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with a place they can call home. We have a clear vision and a social purpose. We believe that everyone has the right to live in a good quality home that they can afford.
We are currently recruiting for an experienced Property Inspector to join Gentoo’s Property Maintenance department. The role will utilise your excellent organisational, planning, and negotiation skills to provide building technical advice and solutions relating to maintaining the Group's stock, ensuring a high-quality customer-focused service is delivered. The role covers the city of Sunderland.
You will be provided with a van to use for business and commuting purposes, therefore it is essential that you have a full UK driving licence.
Key responsibilities will include the following, a full job description is available to view at
www.gentoogroup.com/careers
The role is subject to a basic DBS paid for by Gentoo.
Carry out customer-led property inspections to identify issues/defects.
Identify any potential asbestos-containing materials whilst on site, coordinate asbestos survey requests and analyse results before issuing work or granting any permission requests.
Recommend effective and cost-efficient solutions to issues/defects identified.
Raise maintenance works orders to properties where required (both internal & and sub-contracted work) with relevant SOR.
Provide building technical advice as required to members of the group.
Deal effectively with aspects of all insurance claims and customer complaints.
Inspect, coordinate and process work associated with customer permission for alterations requests.
Carry out detailed condensation and dampness inspections along with full property inspections to identify repairs or defects. Provide appropriate guidance and information to customers as required.
Carry out mutual exchange and property inspections.
Utilise effective recording and reporting systems, ensuring all relevant paperwork is completed accurately and on time.
Carry out covenant consent visits to owner-occupiers where required.
Design adaptations to meet the needs of vulnerable customers in conjunction with the Well-Being team.
Carry out post-inspection and quality checks (both internal & and sub-contracted work.
What we are looking for:
Demonstrable experience in detecting building defects and planning and coordination of work.
ONC/HNC (or equivalent) in a construction-related subject or relevant experience in a construction-related field.
A full UK driving licence is essential to carry out the role.
An understanding of Sovereign Timber Treatment, wood rots, and insect attacks plus DPC in Construction, or relevant experience in a construction-related field.
Demonstrable knowledge of Building and Planning Regulations, Highway Regulations and Party Wall Act.
Excellent time management skills and demonstrable experience in working to and achieving deadlines.
Great communication skills with previous experience using IT systems.
Demonstrable experience in providing customer-focused service.
Some of our great benefits include:
30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
Early finish on a Friday.
Free Health Cash Plan, with cashback for dental, optical, physio, wellbeing therapies and more, with some free child cover.
Access to private healthcare through the Health Cash Plan.
Competitive Aviva pension scheme - Gentoo will contribute up to 10% based on your personal contribution.
Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme
Enhanced family-friendly leave
Car mileage allowance if you use your personal vehicle for business purposes.
Life assurance cover to the value of 3 times your annual salary
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.