Housing policy officer

You can do a foundation degree or degree in:

• housing studies
• social policy
• town planning

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

You can complete a policy officer higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You can start as an office assistant or housing officer with a housing organisation.

With further training and experience, you could work your way up to become a housing policy officer.

You can apply for a training scheme like the GEM programme. This is open to graduates of any subject and non graduates who are already working in housing.

Further information

You can find out more about working in housing from the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation.

You'll need:

• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
• the ability to work well with others
• analytical thinking skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• knowledge of systems analysis and development
• persistence and determination
• business management skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

In your day-to-day duties you may:

• research housing issues and identify good practice
• collect data relevant to housing, like health, employment and demographics
• represent housing services on corporate working groups
• produce reports, policy briefings and factsheets
• make recommendations as a result of government initiatives and new legislation
• give presentations to groups, both inside and outside your organisation

You could work in an office.