New report calls on Welsh government to invest in housing workforce ahead of Senedd election

“Housing professionals are committed to the work and to the communities they serve. What they need now is a Welsh government equally committed to them."

That was the opening call from CIH Cymru national director Matthew Dicks, speaking today at Tai 2026, CIH Cymru’s flagship housing conference, as he reflected on a report published last week highlighting the urgent need for increased investment in the housing workforce ahead of the Senedd 2026 election.

The CIH Cymru research report, Hearing the Housing Professionals' Voice, was commissioned from Cardiff Metropolitan University. It warns that rising demand and pressure to fill the gaps left by other public services are placing growing strain on housing professionals, and calls on the next Welsh government to invest in and better support the workforce by increasing staffing levels, expanding training and education opportunities, and recognising the impact of working with increasingly complex tenant needs.

According to the report - which was commissioned to compliment CIH Cymru’s regular sector snapshot surveys which have consistently revealed that we have a front facing housing workforce at breaking point - housing professionals feel they are increasingly stepping in to support tenants in areas where other public services have been cut. This has led to rising expectations and added pressure on staff, with many experiencing stress, burnout and vicarious trauma in their roles.

It also highlights concerns that new and forthcoming legislation, including the Building Safety (Wales) Bill and changes to homelessness and allocations law, could place additional pressure on a workforce already facing high workloads and capacity challenges.

Matthew Dicks, CIH Cymru national director, said: “This report is a reminder of just how much housing professionals are being asked to deliver – and how vital it is that they are properly supported to do so. That’s why we need a workforce strategy that provides career routes, reflects the wider diversity of Wales, nurtures expertise, increases capacity and helps develop resilience.

“CIH Cymru's manifesto calls on the next Welsh government to treat housing as a sustainable vocation – investing in training, wellbeing and recognition so that the people doing this vital work can continue to thrive in their roles.”

The report findings align with CIH's new Rooted in Resilience toolkit. Launched during Stress Awareness Month as part of Julie Haydon’s presidential campaign, It aims to support housing professionals in managing workplace pressures and building long-term resilience.

In attendance at the Tai conference, CIH president Julie Haydon said: “As a profession dedicated to providing homes and services, we know that housing’s strength does not come from bricks and mortar. It comes from people – and the resilience and professionalism that sustains them.

“If we want to deliver professional, compassionate services, we must be just as serious about investing in workforce wellbeing, strength and leadership as we are in the upkeep of standards. The voices coming through in this research from Wales reflect what we hear across the profession – housing professionals are deeply committed but need to feel that commitment is reciprocated."

Available to download now, the resources are designed for immediate use by individuals and managers, supporting everything from day-to-day reflection to building safe and supportive team cultures where staff can perform to the best of their ability.

The full Hearing the Housing Professionals' Voice report is available to download in English here and in Welsh here.

Image shows Matthew Dicks, CIH Cymru national director, delivering his keynote speech at Tai 2026