Level 4 Certificate in Housing

Adult

Start Date:	Duration:	Level:	Study mode:	Course Location:	Course Type:
February	1 Year	Level 4	Part-Time - Day	Bede Campus	Professional Qualifications	Enquire

What’s it all about?

Prepare for a rewarding career in housing management with a qualification designed to elevate your professional expertise. This programme equips learners with the essential knowledge and skills to deliver effective housing services at a management level, preparing you for leadership roles in this critical sector. You'll explore key areas such as housing law, policy, customer focus, and professionalism, with opportunities to specialise in areas like resident involvement or health and wellbeing. Graduates earn eligibility for Certified Practitioner membership with the Chartered Institute of Housing, enhancing professional recognition. Collaborations with SHINE and local housing providers enrich the learning experience, offering practical site visits and industry engagement. Whether advancing in your current role or seeking new opportunities, this programme lays a strong foundation for progression into senior housing management positions.

What do you need to apply for the course?

The CIH Awarding Organisation does not set entry requirements for its qualification. It stipulates that it may be beneficial for a learner to have:
• Experience working in the housing or a housing-related industry, preferably at a supervisory or management level.
• Achieved a level 3 qualification previously.
• Completed a management qualification.
Completed a housing qualification or a qualification from a related sector.

*Course costs

Study level	Cost
19+	Please enquire

How will you be assessed?

This course uses a blended learning approach, combining remote study with six full-day, in-person teaching sessions held in HICSA or at local housing provider offices across the North-East. Each of the six course units includes a dedicated face-to-face session, complemented by group webinars, with recordings accessible via Microsoft Teams. Regular one-to-one online meetings with teaching staff provide tailored support, helping you stay on track with content and assessments.

Site visits, arranged with SHINE housing providers, offer practical insights into housing practices, while quarterly progress reviews with employers ensure alignment with professional goals. Assessments include academic posters, presentations, professional portfolios, discussions, and research reports, all focused on practical, work-based themes. Collaborative research tasks further enrich learning, with submissions managed through Microsoft Teams. Designed to fit around your professional commitments, this delivery model equips you with both the knowledge and practical experience needed to excel in the housing sector.

Maths & English

The expectation is that learners will have Level 2 Mathematics and English. The CIH Awarding Organisation does not set entry requirements for its qualification.

Industry links

We are working in partnership with SHINE – Social Housing Innovation North-East to deliver housing qualifications. SHINE is a working group comprising the following local housing providers:
• Believe Housing
• Beyond Housing
• Bernicia
• Gentoo
• Home Group
• Karbon Homes
• Thirteen Group
We are working with SHINE to pilot the delivery of the latest CIH specification for their Level 4 Certificate in Housing in 2025-26 and would like to support future cohorts of learners from SHINE from other housing providers on the back of our pilot course which is due to be launched in February 2025.

Time commitments

The pilot course is expected to start in February 2025 and be complete within a 12-month period. With a blended delivery model to include six face-to-face all day teaching sessions to be held in February, April, June, September, November and January supplemented by remote learning and assessment.

Modules

Mandatory units:
- Housing law and regulation
- Housing policy
- Customer focus in housing
- Professionalism in housing

Optional units:
- Delivering services to support health and wellbeing in housing
- Resident involvement in housing

What’s next?

Graduates of this programme can pursue advanced qualifications like the Level 5 Diploma in Housing or undergraduate studies in housing, paving the way to CIH Chartered Member status. Professionally, the qualification opens doors to senior management roles such as Housing Services Manager, Lettings Manager, or Supported Housing Manager. With eligibility for Certified Practitioner membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing and strong industry connections through SHINE, learners are well-positioned for impactful careers. This qualification equips students with the knowledge, skills, and recognition needed to lead in the housing sector and make a meaningful difference in communities.