CIH is the home of professionalism within the housing sector and we’re also currently the only provider of housing qualifications in England. Part of our role is to ensure we provide the sector with the best possible training to improve standards for tenants.

Each nation has a slightly different approach to housing qualifications which you can read about below.

In 2023, the Social Housing Regulation Act received royal assent and became law. When details are confirmed, it will become mandatory for some housing roles in England to undertake qualifications.

When we have more information on the law, we will provide more information on our website.

If you would like to know more about our available qualifications in the meantime, you can view them by visiting our qualifications page.

Letting agent qualifications

In Scotland, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 requires some roles in a letting agency to hold a relevant qualification. Also, where necessary, to undertake additional training on letting agency work.

For sole traders, as well as themselves they must make sure any person directly involved with managing and supervising the day to day running of letting agency work are also qualified.

For companies, partners and other bodies, qualifications must be taken by the person holding the most senior position in the organisation’s management structure who is involved with letting work and any person who is directly involved with managing and supervising the day to day running of letting agency work.

Relevant qualifications are required to be at level 6 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). There are currently four programmes leading to qualifications that are considered acceptable:

• The LETWELL programme, delivered by Landlord Accreditation Scotland and CIH Scotland
• The Association of Residential Letting Agents Propertymark programme in Residential Letting and Property Management Scotland
• The Safeagent Foundation Lettings Course
• MRICS qualifications, where certain conditions have been met in relation to the qualification route, timing and competencies undertaken as part of the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). Letting agents are required to re-apply for registration every three years and therefore to keep their qualifications and training up to date.

If you want more insight into the qualifications in Scotland and their impact on letting agencies you can read our report released in January 2023: https://www.cih.org/media/vrqorb5f/review-of-letting-agent-qualifications-report.pdf

Social housing

In Scotland as in other nations currently, local authority and registered social landlord (RSL) staff are not required to undertake training or qualifications. However, performance is monitored annually using social housing provider’s Annual Return on the Charter (ARC) covering a wide range of indicators against the Scottish Social Housing Charter.

Additionally, social landlords are also required to submit an annual assurance statement to confirm that they are meeting all the required regulatory standards, including the standard which states that “the governing body and senior officers have the skills and knowledge they need to be effective.”

You can read more about this regulatory framework regulation here: https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/media/1871/regulatory-framework-regulation-of-social-housing-in-scotland-february-2019.pdf

If you would like to know more about our available qualifications, you can view them by visiting our qualifications page.

It is not currently mandatory to have a qualification to work in housing in Wales. However, if you are in the private rented sector you need to register for the Rent Smart Wales Requirements under the Housing Act (Wales) 2014. With this it does mean undergoing training as part of this registration. You can read more about this here: https://rentsmart.gov.wales/Uploads/Downloads/00/00/01/48/DownloadFileEN_FILE/Licensing-Training-Requirements.pdf.

You can find a full list of training courses here: https://rentsmart.gov.wales/en/courses/.

If you’re interested in becoming a qualified professional whether in any housing sector and would like to know more about our available qualifications, you can view them by visiting our qualifications page.

While there is currently no legal requirement for housing professionals in Northern Ireland to hold specific qualifications, there is a growing emphasis on skills development within the sector. Consumer Standard 2 of social housing regulation now mandates that housing associations have plans in place to enhance the knowledge, skills and competencies of their workforce.

Additionally, a review of the regulatory framework in 2023 recommended further consideration of mandatory professional standards, referencing the proposals in England.

If you're interested in exploring the qualifications we offer to support professional development in the housing sector, please visit our qualifications page for more information.

In Ireland, like many other countries it is not mandatory to undertake qualifications as a housing professional. However, we do deliver a Certificate in Housing at level 4 through the especially for the Ireland housing sector for those that wish to become qualified.