The qualification aims to provide housing managers in England with the opportunity to demonstrate and develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills required to manage housing services effectively at a senior level.
It includes learning in housing law, policy, regulation, professionalism, and delivering customer-focused housing services.
- This qualification is regulated by: Ofqual
Pilot launch: August 2025
The qualification is currently in a pilot phase. If you are interested in studying this qualification, please register your interest with one of our approved study centres.
What will you learn?
The qualification has four mandatory units containing 21 credits which you must achieve to be awarded the qualification.
Qualification specification document
Who is this qualification for?
The qualification is suitable for learners operating in England who are in a senior management role in housing, or housing service provision who already have learning or a professional membership in a related area but are required to gain a Level 4 housing management qualification in line with the Regulator of Social Housing Competence and Conduct Standard.
You must be working in a senior management role in England, in social housing or for a housing service provider.
You must also hold one of the below:
- A non-regulated housing qualification at a minimum of Level 4
Or
- Chartered Membership of CIH, or membership of another related professional body at a comparable level (e.g. RICS, CMI, TPI) for a minimum of two years
Or
- A regulated qualification or degree at a minimum of level 4 in a related subject, e.g:
- Construction/ development
- Community/ geography
- Planning/ surveying
- Customer service/ business and admin/ management/ project management
- Social welfare/ services/ care/ work
- Law or policy.
- The approximate Total Qualification Time (TQT) is 210 hours.
- The approximate Guided Learning Hours (GLH) are 53.
Please note that these figures may vary between learners and centres.
Qualification fees can vary depending on where, how and with which centre you choose to study.
For further information on fees, please contact your CIH approved study centre directly.
There are three assessments:
- A case scenario-based report set by CIH Awarding Organisation (AO) and assessed by the centre covering the policy, law and regulation in housing unit
- A portfolio of evidence assessed by the centre covering the customer focus in housing and professionalism in housing units
- A professional discussion set and assessed by CIH AO covering the delivering a housing service unit
Assessments carried out by a centre are subject to quality assurance by CIH AO.
The professional discussion must be completed last.
Each learner is allowed two attempts at each assessment, if any of the assessments are failed on the second attempt the qualification cannot be passed.
Each learner can only be registered to the qualification once.
The qualification aims to provide the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and skills, and the ability to develop and progress within senior management roles in housing management, such as:
- Housing services
- Resident involvement
- Supported housing
- Lettings
- Assets
- Maintenance
- Repairs
- Property management
- Service delivery.
You may also wish to progress onto further learning such as:
As a learner you may be eligible to gain access to CIH membership at a concessionary rate.
On completion of the qualification you may wish to become a CIH certified practitioner (CertCIH).
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Choose how you study
CIH qualifications are delivered by our approved study centres. Centres will support you on your journey, working to the specification and the learning outcomes for each course.
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