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Housing policy officer

Housing policy officers research and develop policies for local authorities and housing associations.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £40,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 39 a week

You could work: 9am to 5pm; attending events or appointments

2.9%
Future employment

There will be 2.9% more Housing policy officer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

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

Working environment

You could work in an office.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • a trainee scheme
University

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
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
Apprenticeship

You could work your way up from a housing and property management advanced apprenticeship. With experience and successful completion of a qualification you could apply for trainee policy officer roles.

With Level 3 or higher qualifications you could do a policy officer higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

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.

Other routes

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.

More information

Further information

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

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You could specialise in a particular policy area, like equality issues, regeneration or research and data collection.

With experience you could move into supervisory or management roles.

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

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

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
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