In a major move to raise professional standards, the housing sector will see the new Competence and Conduct Standard take effect in October 2026.
This outcome-based framework applies to all social housing staff in England, setting clear expectations for their qualifications, behaviour, and organisational culture.
A prescriptive list of required skills or behaviours is not anticipated from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). Instead, organisations will be expected to define what constitutes competence and conduct for their specific employees and services. The Regulator’s focus will be on the efficacy of your systems, the quality of your evidence, and the outcomes you achieve, rather than on individual certificates of learning. Organisations will be required to assess their own workforce, identify all roles that are in scope, and show how they are actively managing and closing any identified gaps.
In our latest guide, we offer a comprehensive review of the steps required to prepare for the new Standard. It serves as a vital resource for C-suite executives and senior leaders across various functions, including:
- Customer Service and Operations
- Compliance and Risk
- HR and Learning & Development (L&D)
- Housing and Neighbourhood Management
Access our comprehensive preparation guide to:
- Review your requirements and assess your current state.
- Learn how to evidence a best-in-class approach to embedding, improving and assessing the competence and conduct of staff, while generating the new data and Management Information required.
- Review the recommended steps needed to embed the new Standard throughout your workforce.
