Housing officers supervise the day-to-day maintenance and management of rented properties within their geographical area of responsibility. The housing officer’s role may include overseeing a housing team and therefore the titles housing officer and housing manager may be used interchangeably, depending on the employer.

Duties can include:

• allocating vacant accommodation
• dealing with breaches of tenancy agreements
• overseeing mutual property exchanges
• carrying out regular estate inspections to ensure all properties are in a good state of repair
• assessing the specific requirements of those applying for housing
• referring tenants to appropriate sources of benefits and welfare advice
• rent setting, payments and arrears 
• initiating legal action when other forms of rent recovery have failed.
  

Housing officers or managers will spend some of their time liaising with other agencies such as housing associations, social services departments and welfare rights organisations. They encourage and support tenants’ groups and represent the council at meetings; they advise councillors on projected local housing need, prepare reports, and process statistical information.

Hours and Environment

Housing officers usually work 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Part-time work may be available. Occasional evening work may be required.

The work is largely office-based, however, some time is spent travelling when visiting tenants, inspecting properties and attending meetings.

Skills and Interests

To be a housing officer, you should:

• be organised, able to work under pressure and have good negotiation skills
• have well-developed communication skills
• have an awareness of different cultures and backgrounds
• have good problem-solving and analytical skills
• be computer literate
• have some understanding of budgetary control
• have a sympathetic yet firm approach in order to deal with clients who may be angry or abusive.

A driving licence would be useful.

Entry

There are no set academic entry requirements which must be met in order to work as a housing officer; employers' demands will vary.

Many employers prefer applicants with a relevant BTEC HNC, HND, or degree level qualification. Subjects such as housing, town planning, social policy and urban studies are particularly relevant.

The entry requirements for a BTEC HNC/HND will usually include four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) plus one A level/H grade. For a degree, you are likely to need five GCSEs plus two or three A levels. An Access to Higher Education qualification may also be accepted for entry to certain courses. Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

Experience in housing is likely to be an advantage and possibly essential for some posts. You may be able to gain experience by arranging a relevant work placement or by volunteering with an organisation in the housing sector, such as Shelter.

Graduate trainee schemes may be available with certain organisations such as housing associations, local authorities and charities.

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people active in housing. If you are either part or fully CIH qualified you may be given preference when applying for work as a housing officer. Some CIH qualifications are appropriate for volunteers and tenants, as well as those in relevant paid positions. Check the Training section for details of CIH awards.

If you have four or five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), A levels/H grades or equivalent you may be able to enter housing in an administrative, trainee or housing assistant role. As your knowledge and experience increases, you may be able to work your way up to housing officer or manager.

It may be possible for young people to enter a career in housing through an apprenticeship scheme (see Training).

Training

Employers will frequently provide training for new housing officers, and this is often coupled with part-time study for a relevant qualification such as those awarded by the CIH.

The CIH offer Certificates and Diplomas in Housing aimed at anyone active in the housing sector, whether as a paid worker, volunteer or tenant. CIH qualifications include:

• Level 2 Certificate in Housing - an introductory course at GCSE level, suitable for anyone wishing to gain insight into housing
• Level 3 Certificate in Housing - equivalent to A level, appropriate for anyone active in housing
• Level 3 National Certificate in Tenant Participation and Neighbourhood Renewal (NCTPNR) - aims to enhance the skills of active tenants, enabling them to participate fully in the development of their community
• Level 4 Certificate in Housing - on completion of three certificates, students can progress onto the Level 4 Diploma in Housing, equivalent to HNC.

Some housing officers or managers work towards achieving the CIH Professional Qualification which is made up of two elements: the first is academic, the second is practical.

The academic element is often achieved in two stages:

Stage One
You can fulfil this stage by completing one of the following:

• CIH Level 4 Diploma in Housing
• NVQ/SVQ Level 4 in Housing
• foundation degree/BTEC HNC in Housing
• Undergraduate Diploma or BA/BSc in Housing
  - Years one and two of part-time undergraduate studies, or
  - Year one of full-time undergraduate studies.

Stage Two
This stage can be satisfied by completing a Professional Diploma or BA/BSc in Housing.

Postgraduate level study:
If you already hold a relevant first degree you may be able to do a postgraduate course in housing, many of which meet the requirements for stages one and two of the Professional Qualification. If you have an unrelated degree you will probably need to complete a Graduate Conversion course prior to postgraduate study.

The practical stage of the Professional Qualification is known as APEX. To register for APEX you must have completed, or be in the final stages of completing, the academic requirement of the professional qualification. APEX is a work-based training programme for which you will be interviewed and required to compile a portfolio.

Contact the CIH for more details on careers and qualifications in housing; see Further Information.  

NVQ/SVQ levels 2, 3 and 4 are available in Housing, and include a wide range of optional units reflecting the diversity of the Housing Sector.

Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the property sector, have developed an online learning scheme for professional development. For details see their website, listed in Further Information.

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland

Opportunities

Local authorities are the largest employers of housing officers, although housing associations are employing an increasing number. Government departments, charitable trusts, voluntary organisations, property companies and private landlords also employ housing officers or managers.

Promotion in local authority housing departments may be possible, but promotion structures within other organisations vary. It is common for housing officers to move between employers to gain more experience and higher salaries.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries are in the range £18,000 to £21,000 a year.
With experience, this may rise to between £20,000 and £23,000 a year.
Those in senior management positions may earn between £30,000 and £50,000 a year.

Further information

Octavia House
Westwood Business Park
Westwood Way
Coventry
CV4 8JP
Tel: 024 7685 1789 2 The Courtyard
48 New North Road
Exeter
Devon
EX4 4EP
Helpline: 08000 567160