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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
24 February 2025 10 February 2025 12 months £2410 Enrol online
07 April 2025 24 March 2025 12 months £2410 Enrol online
19 May 2025 05 May 2025 12 months £2410 Enrol online

What is the Level 4 Certificate in Housing?

The Level 4 Certificate in Housing is a one year vocational qualification and is at the same level of learning as the first year of an undergraduate degree.

The qualification is designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of how your organisation and others in the housing industry work. It equips you with advanced technical knowledge in housing practice at a management level, empowering you to excel as a proficient and effective housing professional.

Progression route

On completion you will be able to progress to Level 5 Diploma in Housing and CIH Chartered membership CIHCM.

Who is this qualification for?

The CIH Level 4 qualifications are for individuals in or aspiring to a supervisory or management role in housing. They are designed to explore in greater depth the contextual and specialised knowledge for the housing professional.

Entry requirements

Experience requirements

  • You should be working in housing or a housing related industry, preferably at a management or supervisory level.
  • You should, as a minimum requirement, have completed one of the following:

Learners must also meet the follow criteria:

  • 18+
  • Are working or resident in the UK or Ireland
  • Are confident in using IT and have access to a computer.
  • Have the potential and opportunity to gain the qualification
  • Are aware that this qualification will be assignment based as the Housing Academy’s chosen method of assessment and that other Centres may be approved for other assessment methodologies.
  • Are aware that they must demonstrate an understanding of all the Learning Outcomes to achieve each unit of study within the qualification.

Level 4 descriptors

Please read the following level 4 descriptors that indicate the level that a learner must be working at to achieve the qualification and are confident that they are able to meet these requirements.

Knowledge descriptor

  • You have practical, theoretical, or technical knowledge and understanding of a subject or field of work to address problems that are well defined but complex and non-routine
  • You can analyse, interpret, and evaluate relevant information and ideas.
  • You are aware of the nature of approximate scope of the area of study or work
  • You have an informed awareness of different perspectives or approaches within the area of study or work

Skills descriptor

  • You can identify, adapt, and use appropriate cognitive and practical skills to inform actions and address problems that are complex and non-routine while normally fairly well defined.
  • You can review the effectiveness and appropriateness of methods actions and results.

How long does it take?

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

What will you learn?

The level 4 Certificate in Housing qualification explores areas of housing policy, law, customer focus, and professional practice.

Unit options
Online study

You'll need to complete four mandatory units:

  1. Housing law and regulation
  2. Housing policy
  3. Customer focus in housing
  4. Professionalism in housing

Then two optional units:

  • Housing management
  • Managing people, teams and change
  • Strategies for delivering independent living services
  • Finance in housing
Online plus

You'll complete six mandatory units:

  1. Housing law and regulation
  2. Housing policy
  3. Customer focus in housing
  4. Professionalism in housing
  5. Housing management
  6. Managing people, teams and change

Qualification units

Housing law and regulation

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Housing law and regulation

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • The legal framework in a housing context.
  • Key tenant and landlord legislation and its application in practice.
  • The regulation that applies to the housing sector.

Housing policy

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Housing policy

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • The historical development of national housing policy.
  • How current national housing policy is developed.
  • How housing policy impacts on practice.

Customer focus in housing

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Customer focus in housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • The principles of effective customer service in housing.
  • How to improve the customer experience.
  • The importance of equality diversity and inclusion for housing organisations and their customers.
  • The role of housing in supporting customers experiencing vulnerability.

Professionalism in housing

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Professionalism in housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • What professionalism means in a housing context.
  • Professional practice and professional standards.
  • The importance of professional judgment and reflective practice in a housing context.
  • How to manage your own professional development.

Housing management

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Housing management

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • The role and purpose of housing management.
  • The core housing management services and how they can be designed and delivered.
  • The role of housing management in supporting the health and well-being of tenants.

Managing people, teams and change

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Managing people, teams and change

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • How to manage people.
  • Effective team management.
  • How to manage change.

Strategies for delivering independent living services

View unit

Strategies for delivering independent living services

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • The policy, legislative, regulatory, and funding context underpinning independent living services.
  • The role of local strategies in independent living provision.
  • The role of the organisation in safeguarding individuals.
  • How technology, design, and housing management practice can support independent living.

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

Finance in housing

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Finance in housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • The impact of financing policy on the provision of housing.
  • The income and expenditure of housing providers.
  • Approaches to budgeting and forecasting used within housing.

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

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.

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

Payment options
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.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card.

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.

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.

What can I expect as a CIH Housing Academy learner?

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

  • 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 will be allocated an academic tutor who will offer you support throughout your qualification.
  • You can contact your tutor through ‘Moodle messenger’ when logged in to our online learning platform, Moodle.
  • Your tutor will mark your assignments and give you feedback as well as providing you with advice and support on any academic issues.
  • You will be able to communicate and share ideas with other students via Moodle.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or if you'd like to register your interest in this qualification, please get in touch with us.
Meet our tutors
We have a team of tutors, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, both in housing and education and will support you throughout your qualification.
Terms & conditions
You can read our full terms and conditions here.

View our range of CIH qualifications from Level 2 to Level 5, available to study online or online plus.