Flexible CIH accredited top up units for the Competence and Conduct Standard
CIH Level 4 & 5
Top Up Units
Strengthen your competence with CIH accredited top up units that bridge any gaps in your existing qualification, ensuring you meet the full requirements of the Competence and Conduct Standard with confidence.
Supporting Sector Readiness For The Competence and Conduct Standard With CIH Accredited Top Up Units
CIH Level 4 and Level 5 Accredited Top Up Units
Bridging Skills Gaps for the Competence and Conduct Standard
Complete Only The Learning You Are Missing
At Kingdom Academy, we deliver CIH accredited Level 4 and Level 5 Top Up Units designed to help housing professionals address specific gaps within an existing qualification.
If you already hold a qualification that is partially compliant with the Competence and Conduct Standard requirements, Top Up Units allow you to complete targeted additional learning rather than repeating areas you have already achieved.
Top Up Units are registered and certificated individually. They are designed to bridge identified learning gaps and support compliance requirements where additional accredited learning is needed.
All Units Are:
Regulated by Ofqual
Delivered through an approved CIH study centre
Assessed by experienced housing educators
Available through flexible, supported online study
On successful completion, learners receive a CIH Unit Certificate for each Top Up Unit completed.
CIH Top Up Units
Who Are CIH
Top Up Units For?
Top up units are suitable for housing professionals whose roles fall within scope of the Competence and Conduct Standard and who already hold a qualification that does not fully meet current requirements.
This may include:
Housing officers
Senior housing practitioners
Team leaders and managers
Technical specialists in repairs, assets or compliance
Senior managers responsible for regulated services
If you need to demonstrate full competence in line with the new standard, top up learning offers a structured and proportionate route.
Preparing For The Competence & Conduct Standard
How To Identify
Your Skills Gaps
Before enrolling, it is important to understand whether your current qualification is fully compliant or partially compliant. We recommend the following steps:
1. Review your existing qualification
Work with your employer to compare your qualification against the requirements set out in the government’s policy statement, particularly section 3 and Annex A.
2. Check your unit transcript
Your certificate should include a breakdown of completed units. This helps identify whether key subject areas are missing.
3. Request the qualification specification
If needed, contact the awarding organisation for the full qualification specification to clarify coverage.
4. Compare against role category requirements
Roles are categorised within the policy as:
General housing management
Technical housing management
Cross tenure roles
Each category has specific qualification expectations at different levels.
5. Identify and bridge gaps through accredited learning
If your qualification is partially compliant, you can enrol on one or more CIH accredited Top Up Units to address identified learning gaps.
There is no requirement to complete a specific number of units. The number required will depend entirely on the gaps identified within your existing qualification and role requirements.
All top up learning must be completed within the government’s transition period.
CIH Level 4 Top Up Units
Housing Law & Regulation
This unit builds a solid understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that shapes modern housing practice. Learners explore key landlord and tenant legislation, equality and diversity requirements, and the role of regulation across the sector. The unit focuses on how the law is applied in real cases, how different issues progress through the legal system, and how organisations ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Completion equips learners with practical legal awareness and confidence in navigating core housing legislation.
Housing
Policy
This unit introduces the development of national housing policy and the people, evidence and influences that shape it. Learners explore how policy has evolved over time, how current policy is formed, and who contributes to the decision-making process. The unit also examines how national policy translates into local practice, including the factors that affect implementation and the impact on organisational delivery. Completion gives learners a clear understanding of how policy influences day to day housing work and strategic planning.
Customer Focus In Housing
This unit explores what good customer service looks like in a housing context, with a focus on clear communication, customer insight and inclusive practice. Learners examine how data is used to understand customer needs, how services can be improved, and how equality, diversity and inclusion shape high quality delivery. The unit also looks at supporting customers experiencing vulnerability and evaluating how well services meet a wide range of needs. Completion strengthens learners’ confidence in delivering responsive, customer centred housing services.
Professionalism In Housing
This unit explores what professionalism means within the housing sector and how it is demonstrated in day to day practice. Learners reflect on their own approach in relation to CIH professional standards, considering judgement, boundaries and ethical decision-making. The unit introduces reflective practice models and the role of learning from experience, alongside the importance of ongoing CPD. By the end, learners create a personal development plan to support their current role and future progression.
Resident Involvement In Housing
This unit examines the legal, regulatory and sector drivers that shape resident involvement, along with the theories that influence current practice. Learners explore why resident involvement matters, the different ways residents can participate, and how their insight helps organisations design, review and improve services. The unit also considers how resident feedback informs decision-making and contributes to business improvement across housing services.
Law, Policy and Regulation for Repairs and Maintenance
This unit provides a clear understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that governs repairs, maintenance and building safety. Learners explore how national policy shapes legislation, the role of regulators, and the differences between civil and criminal routes. The unit covers key landlord and tenant responsibilities, compliance requirements, and the remedies available when issues arise. It also examines how organisations manage complaints, disputes and ombudsman cases, and the role of arbitration and adjudication in resolving repairs and maintenance matters.
CIH Level 5 Top Up Units
Kingdom Academy currently offers six CIH Level 5 Top Up Units.
Learners can register for individual units based on identified learning requirements.
Ethical Practice In Housing
This unit explores what ethical practice means for housing organisations, professionals and customers. Learners examine key theories, compare approaches across sectors, and consider how ethical standards shape organisational culture, decision-making and stakeholder impact. The unit also looks at the role of leaders in influencing ethical behaviour and applies the CIH ethical decision-making model to real scenarios. Completion equips learners to recognise ethical challenges, make informed decisions and understand the wider implications for customers and organisations.
Leadership and Management In Housing
This unit examines key leadership and management theories and how they apply within housing organisations. Learners explore the relationship between leading and managing, the skills and behaviours required for each, and the impact of different leadership styles on organisational vision and performance. The unit also looks at how leadership and management are evaluated, including the role of feedback and reflective practice. Learners assess their own capability and consider how to strengthen their effectiveness as leaders and managers in the sector.
Strategic and Business Planning for Housing Organisations
This unit explores the evolving role and purpose of housing organisations and the complexity of operating within both commercial and social contexts. Learners examine strategic development, strategic thinking and strategic planning, applying key theories to shape organisational vision and direction. The unit also covers business planning tools and methodologies, guiding learners through the creation, implementation and monitoring of a strategic business plan. Completion equips learners with a strong understanding of how wider social, political, economic and environmental factors influence strategic decisions in housing.
Housing In
Context
This unit takes a comparative approach to understanding housing, exploring how policy, law and wider social, cultural, political and economic factors shape one aspect of housing in two different countries. Learners examine contrasting theoretical perspectives, analyse the historical development of policy, and compare legal frameworks. The unit also looks at how ideology and current economic conditions influence housing policy. By the end, learners draw conclusions about future trends and consider what lessons can be applied to housing practice in their own country.
Managing Partner Relationships in Housing
This unit focuses on how housing organisations work with a wide range of partners to deliver effective services. Learners explore different partnership arrangements, the skills needed to influence and collaborate, and how to assess the impact of partner performance on service quality. The unit also introduces key principles of contract management, including procurement, mobilisation and performance monitoring, helping learners understand how strong partnerships support successful housing delivery.
Customer Focused Housing Services and Communication
This unit explores how housing organisations can design and deliver services that are inclusive, responsive and aligned to the diverse and changing needs of customers. Learners assess methods for understanding customer demographics, evaluate resident involvement strategies, and examine how insight and data shape service improvement. The unit also considers the impact of service diversification and the importance of clear, accessible communication, including data protection responsibilities. Completion strengthens learners’ ability to create customer centred services that support a wide range of needs, including those experiencing vulnerability.
Important Information About Top Up Units
- Top Up Units and full qualifications are separate CIH registrations.
- Completing Top Up Units will result in the award of individual CIH Unit Certificates only.
- Top Up Units cannot be combined to achieve a full Level 4 or Level 5 qualification. Learners wishing to achieve a complete qualification must enrol separately onto the full qualification programme.
- The number of Top Up Units required will depend on the learner’s existing qualification and identified learning gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
All the important information you need to move forward with confidence.
Yes. Learners can complete one or multiple Top Up Units depending on the learning gaps identified within their existing qualification and professional requirements.
No. Top Up Units are separate accredited units and result in individual CIH Unit Certificates. They do not lead to a full qualification award.
The number of units required varies for each learner. This will depend on your existing qualification, your role and any learning gaps identified against the Competence and Conduct Standard requirements.
No. Learners only need to complete the units required to address identified learning gaps.
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Need Help To Plan For Your Team?
Download The Competence and Conduct Standard Employer Toolkit
Preparing your organisation for the Competence and Conduct Standard can feel complex, especially when roles, qualifications and expectations vary across teams. That is why we have developed the Competence and Conduct Standard Employer Toolkit.
The toolkit helps housing providers to:
- Understand what the Standard requires and when it applies
- Map roles against regulatory categories
- Conduct structured skills gap analysis
- Identify partially compliant qualifications
- Plan workforce development strategically
- Evidence compliance to the regulator
Many organisations use the toolkit alongside top up units to create a clear, phased development plan rather than a reactive training response.
It has been created for employers who want to take a structured, proactive approach, ensuring their teams are ready before the Standard becomes mandatory.
Want To Register Your Interest?
To apply for any of the CIH top up courses or learn more about upcoming start dates, complete the enrolment enquiry form below, and a member of our team will get in touch with you to discuss your options and next steps.