The Complete Guide to Housing Qualifications & Apprenticeships

The social housing sector is set to be burdened with new mandatory guidelines from April 2025.

This article is your complete guide and will provide some tangible solutions to the upcoming reforms.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 comes into force this year bringing the following new rules:

• All senior housing managers MUST hold a Level 4 or 5 Housing Management Qualification
• Non-compliance will lead to the potential of “unlimited” fines and potential legal action 

The transition period lasts for 24 months from the start of the Competence and Conduct Standard. However, as the official start date has yet to be announced, it’s a good idea to plan your training in advance to stay ahead.

According to the government, within the first 12 months, registered providers must ensure that at least half of all relevant individuals have either begun working towards or completed a suitable qualification. If there is only one relevant individual, they will have the full 24 months to achieve this.

Once two years have passed from the commencement of the Competence and Conduct Standard, the regulations will come into full effect without exceptions—so it’s wise to be prepared in good time!h

The Chartered Institute for Housing (CIH) welcomes this change in regulation as it seeks to professionalise the sector, in particular after recent events that we won’t go into just now. However the CIH admitted back in 2023 that the changes come at a “challenging time” for the sector.

It is estimated that 25,000 housing managers will need to work towards a Level 4 or 5 qualification this year. To make matters worse, there are only a handful of education providers who are accredited to deliver these qualifications 

One of those is Learn Plus Us. In the housing and property sector, Learn Plus Us provides comprehensive training, including  Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) accredited qualifications from Level 2 to Level 5, catering to both new entrants and experienced professionals aiming for leadership roles.

As a housing association professional, you may be forgiven for being fairly frustrated with these new regulations when you work in an industry that is stretched to capacity. However, it’s worth considering the long term benefits of these mandatory qualifications. Your leadership team is going to be better qualified and better equipped to drive organisational success, and apprenticeships may be a tool to make this happen to suit your business.

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What are Your Options:

There are multiple ways for housing professionals to get qualified based on career stage and specialism.

Whilst the deadline for compliance is not yet confirmed, The need to be prepared for its arrival has seen many providers—including CIH and sector leaders like Learn Plus Us— dealing with increased demand for flexible training models to meet the new legal requirements.

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Why Apprenticeships Are a Smart Pathway to Compliance & Workforce Development

While many social housing leaders will jump straight to standalone housing qualifications, apprenticeships offer a funded, work-integrated alternative.

If you are new to apprenticeships, there are a few articles I would suggest you take a look at.

Are Apprenticeships the Answer? ‍

Apprenticeship Methods of Delivery ‍

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Are you a levy payer? (Payroll of over £3m) If so you will contribute 0.5% as a tax that can only be used on apprenticeships and training

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So why should you invest in apprenticeships?

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✅ Meet compliance standards without major upfront training costs particularly if you have unused levy funding.

✅ Develop staff internally rather than relying on external hiring

✅ Apprentices apply skills in real-time, improving service standards

✅ Access levy funds & workforce grants to make training cost-effective

✅ Aligns with government priorities on social value & resident experience

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Training Providers like Learn Plus Us are pioneering this sector and offering housing-specific apprenticeships that blend compliance requirements with practical skills to ensure a strategic approach.

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We asked Jason Hewins (Head of Sales & Marketing at LPU) what the best housing providers are doing differently, and some the key areas he picked up on were as follows:

• Investing in Leadership & Management: Development for future executives.
• Strengthening Customer Engagement Skills: Ensuring tenant-first service quality.
• Improving Property & Asset Management Knowledge: Training for compliance, repairs, and maintenance.
• Developing Digital & Data-Driven Housing Teams: Upskilling for future ‘smart housing’ solutions.

Jason said "The strongest housing leaders view new regulations not as hurdles, but as catalysts for transformation. Those who go beyond compliance will shape a workforce ready to meet the evolving needs of the housing sector."h

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Choosing the Right Training Provider

You may now be the converted, and are looking for your next steps to embark on the journey to upskilling your workforce through apprenticeships. 

But first, where do you start?

Well you need to link up with a training provider, and not just any provider. 

Not all training providers offer the same level of support, structure, or relevance to social housing qualifications. 

They are also going to play a significant role in the success of your business so think carefully about who you partner with.

If you are new to training providers I would suggest you take a look at the following article:

How to build a shortlist of training providers

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In short, however, below are some of the considerations you’ll need to take into account when partnering with a training provider to deliver your social housing qualification needs.

✅ Accreditation: Courses must be Ofqual-regulated and approved for housing standards.

✅ Flexibility: Options for online, blended, and work-based learning, whichever works for you 

✅ Sector Experience: All providers can offer qualifications—but does your provider understand housing?

✅ 1:1 Learner Support: Training success is not just about passing a qualification—it’s about real-world application. What is their progress review process like?

✅ Strategic Workforce Solutions: Providers should go beyond simple training delivery and help develop Long-Term Workforce Plans. 

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One provider that stands out in housing workforce development is Learn Plus Us, who specialise in social housing apprenticeships & qualifications from Level 2 through to Level 5.

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“At Learn Plus Us, we are passionate about supporting the social housing sector because we believe in the power of training to transform lives, communities, and career opportunities. Too often, careers in housing are overlooked, and unemployed individuals are rarely encouraged to explore the rewarding opportunities this sector offers.

As part of AKG UK, our purpose is built around the development of people, organisations, and their communities. We recognise that high-quality training and development in social housing drives real change, by improving innovation, enhancing resident experiences, and fostering respectful relationships.

What sets us apart is our commitment to adding value beyond traditional training. We offer a free suite of relevant safeguarding courses to social housing residents, tackling critical issues such as County Lines, Cuckooing, and personal safety. Our bespoke ESOL for Work programme is another key differentiator, empowering individuals with English language barriers to access employment opportunities and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

This is why I was so keen to work in this sector and why Learn Plus Us is dedicated to making a real difference.”

Debbie Gardiner MBE, Managing Director - Learn Plus Us

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To check out the full list of accredited training providers who can support social housing qualifications, you can find them on the CIH website below:

CIH Study Centres

What You Should Do Next

If you or your team require housing qualifications this April 2025, here is a simple guide to beginning the process:

Step 1: Assess Your Needs – Identify what level of qualification is required for senior housing staff.

Step 2: Explore Your Funding Options – Direct qualification funding or levy-funded apprenticeships.

Step 3: Engage with Housing Training Specialists – Work with accredited providers who understand social housing challenges.

Step 4: Create a Workforce Development Plan – Use qualification requirements as an opportunity, not just a compliance issue.

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