Choose your study method

Studying online gives you total flexibility to study when and where works for you. You'll have access to a set of online learning tools, including study materials written by our team of specialist authors, links to useful websites and resources, and forums where you can share your thoughts and ideas with other learners.

 

Start date Application closing date Duration Price
03 July 2023 26 June 2023 11 months £1,640 Enrol online
11 September 2023 04 September 2023 11 months £1,640 Enrol online
06 November 2023 30 October 2023 11 months £1,640 Enrol online

Why study this qualification?

Gaining a qualification is a great way to develop your career prospects. Qualifications at this level will enable you to be an effective housing practitioner and will provide you with a broader understanding of how your organisation and others in the housing industry work.

You will gain valuable skills including:

  • Researching and writing reports
  • Evaluating your organisation’s approach to key housing issues
  • Reflecting on your own professional practice
  • Planning ahead for your own development

Successful completion of this qualification will provide you with a vocational qualification of an equivalent standard to an A-level. It will prepare you for further study, the Level 4 Certificate in Housing, which CIH also offers online as a one year qualification and is the first step on the route towards CIH Chartered Membership CIHCM.

On completion of this qualification, you will be eligible for CIH Certified Practitioner CertCIH status. The pathway indicated on your certificate will reflect the combination of units you studied.

Includes complimentary CIH membership for the duration of your studies.

What is the Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice?

The Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice is a 37 week qualification which provides you with knowledge and understanding of a range of key areas in delivering housing services.

You will study a total of eight units: five core units and a further three units from a choice of three options.

These five mandatory units provide essential underpinning knowledge for working in housing organisations:

Mandatory units
  • The housing system
  • Professional practice skills for housing
  • Occupancy, tenure and lettings
  • Rental income management
  • Dealing with anti-social behaviour in housing

You also study a further three units, choosing as follows:

Option one
  • Delivery of housing services
  • Involving housing service users
  • Sustainable communities
Option two
  • Housing repairs and maintenance services
  • Customer service in housing
  • Managing leasehold housing services

Please note: Option two units are not available for online plus or bitesize learners.

Option three
  • Housing repairs and maintenance services
  • Customer service in housing
  • Managing empty properties

Please note: Option three units are not available for online plus or bitesize learners.

Who is this qualification for?

To register on this qualification you should be working in either a paid or voluntary capacity in housing and must also have completed either:

If you do not meet either of the above criteria you may still be eligible but must have at least six months experience of working in the housing sector.

Duration: approximately 37 weeks, with an average of eight hours study a week.

Mandatory

The housing system

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The housing system

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Know the different ways that individuals access the housing market
  • Understand the role of the main providers of housing
  • Understand the features of the housing market
  • Understand how the government intervenes in the housing system
Mandatory

Professional practice skills for housing

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Professional practice skills for housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the key skills, knowledge and behaviours required for the housing professional
  • Understand ethics in the context of professional practice in housing
  • Understand equality, diversity and inclusion in the context of professional practice in housing
  • Be able to assess own professional performance and development
Mandatory

Occupancy, tenure and lettings

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Occupancy, tenure and lettings

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand types of occupancy and tenure
  • Understand different types of tenancy
  • Understand different approaches to allocation and lettings
Mandatory

Rental income management

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Rental income management

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the importance of rental income management
  • Understand good practice in effective income management
  • Understand the legal framework for arrears management
Mandatory

Dealing with anti-social behaviour in housing

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Dealing with anti-social behaviour in housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand what anti-social behaviour means in a housing context
  • Understand the statutory and non-statutory interventions available to tackle anti-social behaviour
  • Understand approaches to tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour in housing
Option one

Delivery of housing services

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Delivery of housing services

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Know the main types of housing providers nationally and the services they deliver
  • Know the agencies that work with housing providers to deliver services
  • Understand how housing providers are regulated
  • Understand how housing providers can improve the services they deliver
Option one

Involving housing service users

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Involving housing service users

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand why service user involvement is important in a range of housing-related settings
  • Understand the opportunities for service user involvement in housing
  • Understand how to maximise the impact of service user involvement in a specific context
Option one

Sustainable communities

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Sustainable communities

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand what a sustainable community is
  • Understand the political, social and economic context of sustainable communities
  • Understand how sustainable communities can be developed
Option two

Housing repairs and maintenance services

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Housing repairs and maintenance services

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the approaches to delivering a responsive repairs service.
  • Understand the approaches to delivering long term asset management programmes.
  • Understand the relationship between the client and contractor roles in the delivery of repairs
Option two

Customer service in housing

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Customer service in housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the role of customer service in housing
  • Understand how to communicate effectively with the housing customer
  • Understand the role of customer feedback in housing
Option two (choice one)

Managing leasehold housing services

View unit

Managing leasehold housing services

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Know the legal and regulatory framework for leasehold housing management.
  • Understand the features of the leasehold housing sector.
  • Know how to consult on, and calculate leasehold housing service charges.
Option two (choice two

Managing empty properties

View unit

Managing empty properties

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the context for managing empty properties
  • Understand how housing organisations manage empty properties

What can I expect as a CIH Housing Academy online learner?

The CIH Housing Academy will support you throughout your qualification, offering guidance when personal or work-related problems arise that may affect your studies.

How we support you:

  • At the beginning of the qualification you will be provided with a brief introduction to the qualification and information on how it is delivered, structured and assessed.
  • You’ll have an academic tutor who offers you support throughout your qualification via email and telephone on request. Your tutor will mark your assignments and give you feedback as well as provide you with advice and support on any academic issues.
  • Get a complete set of online learning materials to work through for each unit. You will submit an assignment at the end of each unit of study (approximately every eight weeks).
  • Each unit contains activities to help support your learning and forums in which you can stay in contact with your fellow learners and share your thoughts on the study topics and assignment tasks.
  • Communicate and share ideas with other learners via our e-learning site, Moodle.
Free student membership

During your studies you have the option to be a student member with CIH. Not only will student membership help you with your qualification but give you access to all the up-to-date information and best practice in the sector, as well as free attendance at our events, training and a wide array of digital resources.

How will student membership benefit me during my qualification?

  • Our Knowledge hub is broken down into specialist areas, where you can access information on the latest housing issues, and in-depth case studies and gain insight into what you need to know. You can use this when studying to help with examples, case studies, and general awareness around certain topics you may be studying
  • Hear about all the latest developments and important topics in housing with our webinars. These can be great if you prefer a listening learning style and want to hear about real-life examples from our expert speakers
  • Our membership helps your employability, progression, and development in your career. We offer resources such as blogs, publications, and guidance around career progression and development
  • Whilst studying your qualification it is still important to keep your knowledge current, with your free member newsletter, latest news, policy briefings, and more, student membership will help you do this
  • Get the opportunity to speak to other professionals that have completed your qualifications with our fantastic member network opportunities

How to apply

You can apply to study this qualification by selecting a start date from the table at the top of this page and completing our online application form.

You will be asked to provide evidence of your qualifications and/or your experience of working in the housing sector as part of the application process.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over, should be confident using IT and have access to a computer. 

You will be asked to select a payment option during the application process.

Payment options

Payments for CIH Housing Academy qualifications can be made either by individuals or organisations.

Individuals

Individuals or purchasers (making the booking on an individual’s behalf) booking onto all courses are required to pay their full fees within seven days of receipt of the invoice or prior to the start date of the course.
Failure to complete payment prior to the start date may mean that your course date will need to be changed or services stopped. *The start date is the day of the advertised closing date for applications.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card.

Organisations

If payment for fees is to be made by the individual’s organisation, a purchase order is required. It is the individual’s responsibility to provide this to CIH at the time of booking so please ensure you have this to hand before you begin your application.

Get in touch
If you have any questions about this qualification, please call us today on 024 7685 1700 or email housing.academy@cih.org.
Register your interest
Not quite ready to enrol yet? Register your interest and a member of our qualification team will be in touch to talk about this qualification and provide you with any more information you may need to make your decision.