What is the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)?

Updated

CIH is a professional body for people who work in housing, and it describes its purpose as supporting housing professionals to create a future in which everyone has a place to call home. It is relevant if you are an individual working in or entering the housing sector, or an organisation that employs housing staff or delivers housing services. Its main activities are membership, education and qualifications, training, events, policy work, and resources such as news, publications and a Knowledge Hub.

What CIH offers

Membership

CIH membership is presented as recognition of professionalism across the sector, alongside access to a global community and member-exclusive events. The site sets out membership grades, reasons to join, fees and payment, professional standards, and ways to manage or renew membership. There is a separate login and a "Join now" route.

Education and training

CIH provides qualifications, training courses, apprenticeships and end-point assessments, and study centres where people can deliver CIH qualifications. It also runs a Housing Academy. This makes CIH relevant both to individuals building a housing career and to employers arranging training for staff.

Events

CIH runs events and webinars, with recordings available afterwards. It also offers exhibition and sponsorship opportunities. Events are positioned as opportunities to learn from speakers, build networks and keep up with developments in the sector.

Policy and resources

CIH carries out policy work with a dedicated policy team and policy networks. Its resources include a Knowledge Hub, blogs and articles, publications, podcasts and mentoring. Latest news is published on the site.

Who it is for

Audience What CIH provides
Individual housing professionals Membership grades, professional standards, qualifications, training, events, mentoring, resources
People entering the sector Qualifications, apprenticeships, training courses, study centres
Organisations and employers Strategic membership pathways, board membership, training and apprenticeships, exhibition and sponsorship

Current areas of focus

The site highlights the Competence and Conduct Standard, which it says came into effect on 1 October 2026 for all registered providers in England, and points to ways CIH can support organisations in meeting it. It also features two campaigns: Behind Every Home, a presidential campaign by Evie Copland showcasing the impact of housing professionals across the UK and Ireland, and Proud to Be Professional, which addresses the professionalism mandate in England and wider discussions across the rest of the UK and Ireland.

How to decide whether to engage

  • If you want professional recognition and a sector community, start with the membership pages covering grades, benefits and fees.
  • If you need skills or a qualification, look at the qualifications, training and apprenticeship routes, or the Housing Academy.
  • If you represent an employer, review strategic membership pathways and the material on the Competence and Conduct Standard.
  • If you mainly want sector information, the Knowledge Hub, publications, blogs and podcasts are the relevant entry points.

The site is available in English and Welsh, and includes a housing jobs section.