Housing officer
Housing officers look after rented properties for local authorities and housing associations.
Salary range: £21,000 to £60,000
How to become a housing officer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
University
You could complete a foundation degree or degree in:
- housing studies
- social policy
- building surveying
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You can do a college course like the Level 2 or 3 Certificate in Housing.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More information
Apprenticeship
You can take a housing property assistant intermediate apprenticeship and then a housing and property management advanced apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More information
Work
You may be able to start as a housing or admin assistant and work your way up. You could do this through on-the-job training leading to a qualification like the Level 2 or 3 Certificate in Housing Practice, offered by the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Volunteering and experience
You may find it helpful to get some experience with a housing charity or local tenants’ association.
Direct application
You may be able to apply to a local authority or housing association for a place on a graduate training scheme, if you have a degree.
More information
Further information
You can get more advice about careers and training in housing from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- customer service skills
- business management skills
- administration skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of economics and accounting
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- pass background checks
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- assessing the needs of people applying for housing
- giving people vacant accommodation
- carrying out regular inspections
- dealing with anti-social behaviour and broken tenancy agreements
- referring people to advice on benefits and welfare
- setting rents and dealing with payments and arrears
- gathering statistical information and preparing reports
- attending meetings
- arranging for things like broken lifts and boilers to be repaired
- working with other agencies like social services
Working environment
You could work at a client’s home or in an office.
Career path and progression
With experience you could specialise in an area of housing like homelessness or anti-social behaviour.
You could also move into management and become a senior housing officer, regional manager, head of service or director.