Providing Housing Services
This module will provide knowledge and understanding of front-line housing services in the UK and develop your skills in reflective analysis.
Key facts
Overview
This module will provide knowledge and understanding of front-line housing services in the UK and develop your skills in reflective analysis.
Through interactive online learning and teaching you will be encouraged to critically analyse why and how the State does and does not intervene in housing policy and how landlords might deliver more effective, empathetic and responsive services to their tenants and service-users. This is a key module for those working in front-line housing, homelessness and related support services and assists Continuing Professional Development.
The UK housing sector needs qualified housing professionals to address a range of key challenges. Our online postgraduate programmes in Housing Studies can help you further your career with a professional qualification. Our modules are flexible and accessible, to support you to combine your studies alongside your other commitments.
Module HOUP001: Providing Housing Services introduces you to the key concepts, principles and relationships central to understanding the delivery of front-line housing services across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK. It encourages critical reflection on why and how the State chooses to intervene or not in housing, and how housing providers can deliver effective and responsive services to their customers. In doing so it connects debates about service delivery to key concepts, such as need, choice, responsibility, inclusion and exclusion. Additionally, the module introduces the important skills of reflective practice and reflective writing.
This module is relevant to professionals working across the housing sector and in allied professions.
Entrance requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 88 overall with 20 in reading, 19 in writing, 19 in listening and 22 in speaking.
- TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall with no less than 4 in any band.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Objectives
This 20-credit module provides a starting point for understanding the range of factors, influences and activities associated with the delivery of housing and housing services.
The module explores:
- concepts of need, choice and responsibility.
- issues of welfare, exclusion and homelessness.
- the role of government, service providers and other key stakeholders.
The module covers the private housing market as well as the social rented sector. Upon completion of the module, you’ll be able to understand:
- the institutional framework for the provision of housing services.
- the rationale and focus of state intervention in housing.
- knowledge of key roles, responsibilities and activities relating to front-line housing provision.
Structure and content
Over eight sessions this online module covers key topics in the provision of housing services. Topics include: different roles and responsibilities in housing services; explanations for variation in local services; delivering repairs; communicating with customers; accessing housing; homelessness & tenancy sustainment; collecting the rent; professionalism and ethics; and intervention in the private housing market.
Delivery and assessment
The module combines weekly online live lectures with guided discussion boards. Participation requires active engagement and discussion with peers. Students will also be provided with learning materials each week, which may include a mix of written, visual and audio materials for engagement and critical discussion. The module assessment is an essay, plus formative reflective writing.
Module coordinator
Employability
This module is designed to support the Continuing Professional Development of those already working in the sector and/or looking to move into a career in housing. There will be opportunities to develop your professional knowledge, to network with other professionals from the housing sector, and to learn from good practice through case studies and guest lectures.
What next?
Contact us
If you have any questions about entry requirements for our continuing professional development and short courses, contact our Admissions team.
For all other questions, please use our enquiry form.