PRESS RELEASE : Social housing managers must be qualified under new laws to protect residents [February 2023]

• Latest government action to drive up standards and improve the lives of social housing residents
• Professional qualifications to be made mandatory for social housing managers, ensuring residents receive a high-quality service and rapidly professionalise the sector
• Part of the Social Housing (Regulations) Bill which will give Regulator tough new powers to hold landlords to account

Social housing managers must gain professional qualifications under new rules to protect residents and raise standards in the sector, Housing Secretary Michael Gove announced today.

Around 25,000 managers across the sector will now be required to have an appropriate level housing management qualification regulated by OfQual equivalent to a Level 4 or 5 Certificate or Diploma in Housing, or a foundation degree from the Chartered Institute of Housing.

The changes will be made through amendments to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill which will drive up standards in the sector and hold landlords to account over the service they provide to their tenants. The Bill will also give the Regulator tough new powers – allowing them to enter properties with only 48 hours’ notice and make emergency repairs with landlords footing the bill.

It follows Awaab’s Law, introduced earlier this year in the wake of the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, which will force social landlords to fix damp and mould within strict time limits.

Today’s new requirements will professionalise and drive the culture change needed in the sector, ensuring residents receive a high level of service and are treated with respect at all times. While many managers already provide a high quality professional service, not all do. This will ensure that all managers have the skills and qualifications they need.

This will bring social housing more closely into line with other sectors providing front line services, including social work, teaching, and health and care services. Any landlord who fails to meet the requirements of the new standards could receive an unlimited fine from the regulator.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:

The Grenfell Tower tragedy and, more recently, the death of Awaab Ishak showed the devastating consequences of residents inexcusably being let down by poor performing landlords who consistently failed to listen to them.

We know that many social housing residents are not receiving the service or respect they deserve. The changes we are delivering today will make sure social housing managers across the country have the right skills and experience to deliver an excellent service and drive up standards across the board.

Gavin Smart, CEO Chartered Institute of Housing, said:

We welcome the government’s focus on and support for professionalism in housing. We believe housing professionals should do all they can to ensure that tenants and residents have access to good quality, affordable homes; that they are treated with dignity and respect; and that their voices and views are heard and taken account of in decisions that affect them, their homes and the communities they live in and that the vast majority of housing professionals and organisations share this belief.

We look forward to working with government to support organisations and individuals in achieving the qualifications needed under these new requirements.