New competence and conduct standards for English social housing

The Department for Levelling-up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has set its much-anticipated proposals for strengthening the competencies and conduct of those working in social housing within England.

The plans build on the government’s work to improve standards and tenant wellbeing, especially in light of several high-profile and devastating events including the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the death of Awaab Ishak due to the presence of mould.

For several months RICS have been working with DLUHC to influence and shape the proposals to ensure any new standards deliver meaningful improvements across social housing, while also maximising the role professional bodies can have in upholding best practice, quality and regulation. In the coming weeks, RICS will be responding to the consultation.

Key proposals include:

• The Regulator of Social Housing to oversee registered providers (including housing associations and local authorities) provision of competence and conduct standards for those involved in the management of social housing services.

• Every social housing provider to have a written policy on their approach towards skills, knowledge, development and conduct of all staff.

• The introduction of minimum qualifications for senior housing executives and managers, known as the Relevant Person within the standard – defined as someone with a substantive role in managing housing delivery and services. This also includes those responsible for the contracts and delivery of services undertaken by third-party providers.

• For senior housing managers to have a minimum of a Level 4 qualification, and for executives to have a foundation degree or minimum Level 5 qualification – within a relevant to housing management qualification.

• A 24-month transition period, with at least half of those Relevant Persons already possessing or working towards the relevant qualifications.

RICS have been working with DLUHC to highlight the benefits provided by professional body qualifications and memberships. As such, DLUHC is proposing that where individuals belong to a professional body, but the qualifications don’t meet the minimum standard they are looking for, individuals can achieve compliance through relevant CPD rather than undertake an entirely new qualification.

DLUHC specifically references the importance of RICS qualifications within their proposals and how suitable CPD can support members in complying with the new standards.

Following the launch of the consultation, Mairéad Carroll, RICS Senior Specialist in Property commented:

“Everyone deserves to live in a safe, high-quality home, where they have the confidence that those responsible for its upkeeping deliver services to the highest standards.

“Minimum competencies and conduct standards will help improve standards, but need to be supported by sufficient resourcing for improvement works, regulation and tenant engagement.

“RICS professionals already play an important role in delivering high-quality social housing services, with hundreds of members directly employed by housing associations and several thousand more working in social housing through local authorities or service providers. The range of roles undertaken by members is diverse, and we will work with DLUHC to clarify the extent of responsibilities falling within scope. 

"For members where additional training or qualifications are required to meet compliance with the new standards, RICS will work to ensure the relevant resources and support are available.

“We are glad DLUHC recognises the importance of professional body qualifications and look forward to continuing to work with them as the policy develops and to ensure RICS members can continue to deliver a high-quality service for social housing tenants”.

RICS will be responding to the consultation and is inviting members to share their insights and comments ahead of our submission by emailing RICS Senior Public Affairs Officer Sam Rees at srees@rics.org.