Overview

Do you want to make a real difference, in an exciting job, where there are lots of different roles to choose from? A career in housing could be for you.

Working in housing is about much more than just bricks and mortar. It’s about making a positive difference to people’s lives, their wellbeing and their life chances, as well as their communities, by providing them with a decent home and environment in which to live.

You don’t have to be qualified in the way doctors or accountants are either, though there are some skills, qualities and values that can come in handy, especially for front-line housing officers who often support vulnerable people and deal with complex situations. All housing workers regularly make decisions that impact on the lives of tenants.

For front-line staff, it’s good to have:

  • a ‘can do’ attitude 

  • good listening and communication (people) skills

  • empathy and be able to relate to people

  • a problem-solving approach

  • the confidence to assess situations as they arise 

  • the flexibility to be able to adapt to changing situations

  • ability to cope with challenging situations (and seek help/support when it’s needed)

  • ability to work as part of a team

  • a desire to keep learning.

Some roles, like IT officer, require specialist skills but underpinning every job in housing is a desire to work in an organisation that aims to make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Hear more about some of the skills and qualities that are useful from those already working in housing…

Project Officer, Housing and Construction at Dundee City Council, Dylan Gowans on some of the qualities he’s found useful working in housing

Louise Butchart, Dundee City Council’s Head of Housing & Construction Services, on some of the personal qualities, values and skills suited to a career in housing

Zubeida Yusuf, Customer Services Officer at Barrhead Housing Association, on some of the skills she finds useful in her housing career

Housing – a quick overview

Simply speaking, there are three main types of housing in the UK:

  • – these are homes owned and lived in by individual households. Around 64% of homes in Scotland fall into this category.

  • – these are properties rented out by individuals or organisations. Around 19% of housing in Scotland is in the private rented sector.

  • – these are homes provided by either local authorities or housing associations. Affordable housing makes up around 17% of the total.

Most career opportunities are in the affordable housing sector, but jobs are also available with private lettings agents, estate agents and private housebuilders.

Interested in a housing career? Find out more about jobs in housing

What is affordable housing?

Affordable housing is housing provided to eligible households, whose needs wouldn’t otherwise be met.

The most common types of affordable housing are:

  • – vital for those on the lowest incomes, social rented housing has the lowest rents and is the most common form of affordable housing.

  • – rents are higher than social rents but still lower than in the private rented sector.

  • – includes shared ownership, where a buyer purchases a percentage of a property and pays rent on the remaining percentage.

Who provides affordable housing?

Affordable housing is mostly provided by

  • – also known as councils, local authorities provide a range of services to households in their area. Their housing-related services typically include owning and managing their own social rented housing, as well as planning other types of housing in their local area, such as private housing for owner occupation.

  • – also known as registered social landlords in Scotland, housing associations own and manage affordable housing. Ranging from small organisations owning a handful of properties to large businesses responsible for tens of thousands of homes, most are not-for-profit organisations and many are registered charities.

Local authorities and housing associations that provide affordable housing are typically referred to as 'social landlords’.

What do social landlords do? 

Social landlords provide a wide variety of services. 

For those interested in pursuing a career in housing, this means there’s a wide range of different roles to choose from – everything from housing management, tenant involvement and development to supported housing and technology enabled care.

All social landlords perform several core housing management functions, including:

  • allocating and letting properties to new tenants

  • collecting rent and service charges, as well as dealing with arrears

  • managing estates and individual tenancies

  • carrying out repairs and essential maintenance of properties

  • tackling anti-social behaviour

  • involving tenants in designing, improving and scrutinising their services.

Many organisations go a step further, providing additional services to improve the communities they operate in and the lives of their tenants/customers. These may include:

  • providing care and support services to a particular client group, such as people with a physical disability or learning difficulty

  • providing money and debt advice

  • helping people to return to work and training

  • running services or maintaining amenities that benefit the local community.