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Housing officer

Alternative titles for this job include

Housing officers look after rented properties for local authorities and housing associations.

Average salary (a year)

£21,000 Starter

to

£35,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 39 a week

You could work

evenings attending events or appointments

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become 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

College

You can do a college course like the Level 2 or 3 Certificate in Housing Practice.

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

You may find it helpful to get some experience with a housing charity or local tenants' association.

See Do-it and NCVO for information on voluntary opportunities in your area.

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

Career tips

You could work for a local authority, a housing association or a charity like Shelter. You could also work for a university or property company.

Further information

You can get more advice about careers and training in housing from the Chartered Institute of Housing.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

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:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You will:

  • assess the needs of people applying for housing
  • give people vacant accommodation
  • carry out regular inspections
  • deal with anti-social behaviour and broken tenancy agreements
  • refer people to advice on benefits and welfare
  • set rents and deal with payments and arrears
  • gather statistical information and prepare reports
  • attend meetings
  • arrange for things like broken lifts and boilers to be repaired
  • work with other agencies like social services

Working environment

You could work at a client's home or in an office.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

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.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Lettings Apprentice

  • Wage: £12,646.40 a year Annually
  • Location: FOLKESTONE

Apprentice Property Manager

  • Wage: £6,656 to £11,897.60 a year Annually
  • Location: Luton

Courses In England

Level 2 Certificate in Housing Practice

  • Provider: NEW CITY COLLEGE
  • Start date: 17 September 2025
  • Location: HACKNEY

Level 3 Certificate Housing Practice (CIH)

  • Provider: NEW COLLEGE DURHAM
  • Start date: 03 February 2025
  • Location: Durham

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