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
17 July 2023 10 July 2023 12 months £2,250 Enrol online
25 September 2023 18 September 2023 12 months £2,250 Enrol online
20 November 2023 13 November 2023 12 months £2,250 Enrol online

Why study this qualification?

By gaining an accredited qualification from CIH you will:

  • Develop your career prospects
  • Become an effective housing professional
  • Gain a deeper understanding of how your organisation and others in the housing industry work
  • Gain technical knowledge and understanding of housing practice at a management level
  • Progress to Level 5 Diploma in Housing and CIH Chartered membership CIHCM.

Includes complimentary CIH membership for the duration of your studies.

What is the Level 4 Certificate in Housing?

The Level 4 Certificate in Housing is a one year vocational qualification, comparable to the first year of an undergraduate degree, which explores areas of housing policy, law, finance, and professional practice.

The qualification is made up of four mandatory units:

  • Financing for housing
  • Housing law
  • Housing policy
  • Professional practice skills for housing

You will then choose and study any two of the following four optional units:

  • Housing management services
  • Strategies for promoting independent living and wellbeing
  • Managing people and change
  • Research skills for housing

Duration: 12 months, with an average of eight hours study a week.

Who is this qualification for?

If you’re looking to move in to a housing management role, new to housing leadership or management, or looking to gain a level 4 housing qualification.

To register on this qualification you should, as a minimum requirement, have completed one of the following:

If you don’t meet this minimum requirement but have relevant experience working in the housing sector, your application may also be considered.

Unit options
Online

You'll need to complete four mandatory units:

  • Housing policy
  • Finance for housing
  • Housing law
  • Professional practice skills for housing

Then two of four optional units:

  • Housing management services
  • Managing people and change
  • Strategies for promoting independent living and wellbeing
  • Research skills for housing
Online plus

You'll complete six mandatory units:

  • Housing policy
  • Finance for housing
  • Housing law
  • Professional practice skills for housing
  • Managing people and change
  • Housing management services 

Qualification units

Mandatory

Housing policy

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Housing policy

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the policy process in a housing context
  • Understand the historical development of national housing policy
  • Understand how a housing policy impacts practice
Mandatory

Financing for housing

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Financing for housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the impact of financing policy on the provision of housing
  • Understand the income and expenditure of housing organisations
  • Understand approaches to budgeting and forecasting for the financing of housing organisations
Mandatory

Housing law

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Housing law

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the legal framework in a housing context
  • Understand the key legislation in relation to landlords and tenants
  • Understand the application of the law to an area of housing practice
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 concepts of being a member of a profession and acting professionally
  • Understand the skills required to be a housing professional
  • Be able to assess own professional performance
  • Be able to manage own professional development
Optional

Housing management services

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Housing management services

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the basis for the provision of housing services
  • Understand key housing management functions
  • Understand how individuals access housing
Optional

Managing people and change

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Managing people and change

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the key human resource functions used to manage people
  • Understand the principles of team management
  • Understand how to manage change
Optional

Strategies for promoting independent living and wellbeing

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Strategies for promoting independent living and wellbeing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the policy context of independent living and how it contributes to the integration of health and care
  • Understand local strategies for health and well being
  • Understand organisational procedures to safeguard individuals with care and support needs
  • Understand how technology, housing management practice and design can enable independent living to achieve health and well being

Please note: This unit is not available if you study through online plus.

Optional

Research skills for housing

View unit

Research skills for housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand why research is important for planning housing and housing-related services
  • Understand different research methods and research ethics
  • Be able to plan a research study

Please note: This unit is not available if you study through online plus.

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.
  • You will be able to communicate and share ideas with other students 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.