Across the UK, housing providers are preparing for a shift that will define the next decade of social housing. The Competence and Conduct Standards are more than a compliance requirement. They’re a signal that the sector is moving towards a culture where skills, behaviours, and accountability sit at the heart of service delivery.
Already, providers like Clarion Housing, L&Q, and Places for People are rethinking workforce plans. Boards are asking how to embed competence into daily practice, not just training rooms. Leaders are mapping out what “good” looks like, not as a tick box exercise, but as lived behaviours visible in resident experience.
This matters because the timeline is short. By October 2026, all registered providers must show that housing managers hold recognised qualifications. Larger providers (with over 1,000 homes) have three years to evidence change. Smaller providers have four. The sector has been here before: leaving action until the last moment risks rushed procurement, staff fatigue, and missed opportunities to improve outcomes for residents.
And yet, there’s an opportunity. With budgets tight, apprenticeship levy funding remains under used across housing. Some organisations; Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, Sovereign Network Group, Peabody, are already leveraging it to upskill managers steadily, spreading costs and building resilience over time. Others are piloting micro-learning, reflective supervision models, and embedded Level 4 Senior Housing & Property Manager apprenticeships (with CIH L4 Certificate in Housing) that link directly to CIH standards.
What emerges from these examples is that competence isn’t abstract. It’s about better inductions, stronger line management, clearer decision making frameworks. The kind of capabilities developed through structured housing and property training pathways. It’s about ensuring that when residents raise issues, whether about repairs, safety, or vulnerability, staff have the confidence, knowledge, and behaviours to respond well. Competence is culture.
To continue this conversation, we’re hosting a free webinar – “Future-Proofing Housing Providers: Competence, Conduct & Funding Insights” (28 October) – bringing together sector voices and funding specialists to share practical steps, timelines, and examples already working on the ground. You can [register here].
