New rules require social housing bosses to be qualified

Senior managers at social landlords in England, including Birmingham City Council and the city's housing associations, must now hold or be working towards a recognised housing qualification, under new rules that come into force this month.

The competence and conduct standard, set by the Regulator of Social Housing, forms part of the Government's response to the Grenfell Tower inquiry. It is intended to make sure that the people who manage social homes have the skills and knowledge to keep tenants safe and treat them with respect.

What the standard requires

The standard applies to senior housing managers and executives. They must have, or be working towards, a relevant professional qualification. Landlords must also make sure that all staff have the skills and knowledge they need, and that they treat tenants with fairness and respect.

A new qualification for Birmingham

The Birmingham-based housing association Midland Heart has worked with Tpas, the tenant engagement organisation, and University College Birmingham to create a new Level 4 qualification in social housing surveying, awarded by the National Housing Council.

The course was designed with tenants and includes modules on tenants' experiences, engagement and communication. It is the first programme in a planned regional housing skills academy, and it offers a route to further qualifications at levels 5, 6 and 7. The combined authority is providing funding support for applicants.

Why it matters

The fire at Grenfell Tower in west London in June 2017 killed 72 people. The public inquiry into the disaster found that residents' concerns about safety had been repeatedly ignored, and that they had been treated with contempt by those responsible for their homes.

The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale in 2020, caused by long-term exposure to mould in his family's social housing flat, also led to calls for a culture change in the sector. Awaab's Law now sets strict deadlines for social landlords to fix damp, mould and other hazards, with a wider range of hazards covered from 30 November.

The Mayor's view

The Mayor, Richard Parker, said: "I'm investing tens of millions of pounds in new social and affordable housing because too many families are waiting too long for the safe, secure and warm home they deserve."

Social housing in Birmingham

Birmingham City Council is one of the largest council landlords in the country, and the city has many housing associations, including Midland Heart, which manages more than 10,000 affordable homes in Birmingham and plans to build hundreds more. More than 33,000 households are on the council's housing register waiting for a home.

Better service for tenants

Tenants' groups have welcomed efforts to professionalise housing management, saying that well-trained staff are more likely to listen to residents, deal with repairs properly and spot problems early.

The Regulator of Social Housing now inspects large landlords and can take action where they fall short of its standards, including the consumer standards introduced in 2024, which cover safety, the quality of homes, tenancy management and how landlords engage with tenants.

How to complain

Social housing tenants who are unhappy with their landlord should first use its complaints procedure. If the problem is not resolved, they can take their complaint to the Housing Ombudsman, which can order landlords to put things right and pay compensation.

Careers in housing

Housing associations and councils employ people in a wide range of roles, from repairs and surveying to tenancy support and customer service. The new qualifications are designed to help people progress in their careers while improving the service tenants receive.