Housing Regulation

The highlights

• New housing regulation qualification, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
• A crucial step towards becoming a CIEH Registered Housing Health Practitioner
• A fully online course giving you the freedom to study at a time and place that suits you, within each trimester
• 12 or 18 month study routes depending on your experience within the rented housing sector
• Developed in partnership and collaboration with local housing authorities (LHAs)
• Developed and taught by highly experienced housing practitioners

Course description

The University Diploma in Housing Regulation is a specialist online taught course designed to enable those working in the private rented / housing sector to become a Registered Housing Health Practitioner with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

Accredited by the CIEH, this course is the first stage in the CIEH Advanced Professional Certificate in the Private Rented Sector (also known as APC-Housing), which comprises the following three stages:

1. An accredited taught course run by a CIEH Recognised Partner
2. A Practice Log detailing your on-the-job experience
3. Experience Assessment – an online assessment covering the Practice Log and knowledge gained from the taught course

Successful completion of the above stages will lead to registration as a Housing Health Practitioner with the CIEH.

Learn to improve standards and conditions in the Private Rented Sector

This online Housing Regulation University Diploma course aims to give you a clear understanding of the relationship between the sphere of housing and health, the stressors and the necessary intervention strategies. It provides the opportunity for you to investigate the inter-relationship between housing hazards, risk assessment and the impact on public health and wellbeing.

Throughout the course, you will develop the ability to analyse, interpret and investigate risk and provide practical solutions. You will also develop a critical understanding of the likely effects of stressors on public health and housing.

This online Housing Regulation University Diploma course comprises three taught 20-credit level 5 modules to be studied while gaining work-based experience within the sector.

Please note: Only the full University Diploma is accredited by the CIEH for the purposes of professional registration. Practitioners who study one or two of these modules and don’t complete the full University Diploma, will receive a certificate/s for the completed module/s which can be considered for Recognised Prior Credited Learning (RPCL) against another similar programme.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

12 or 18 month study routes depending on your experience

Sponsored by your employer and depending on your level of experience, you can study the course over 12 or 18 months. The 12-month route, which starts in September each year, is for more experienced students, alternatively the 18-month route, which starts in January each year is a developmental route.

• 12-month route (September intake): you should have experience in the housing sector either within housing management or regulation and be able to accomplish the workplace training requirements through your workplace sponsor within the one-year duration of this course
• 18-month route (January intake): this is a developmental route for those with little or no prior housing experience, and who require longer than one academic year to meet the required competence thresholds. Alternately, if your workplace sponsor is not able to offer all the required training elements within the shorter 12-month September intake route

Teaching and learning

The three taught modules will provide you with the knowledge base for your housing career. Each module is designed to develop your skills and knowledge in specific areas and provides the knowledge base to work based practise.

You will investigate the intricate relationships between building technology, roles of central and local government, and the connection between housing and health. You will develop your team working skills in the application and evaluation of legislative and other interventions in this vibrant sector. All of the programmes content aligns to the CIEH housing circular.

Learning technologies involve you engaging in real-time as well as pre-recorded study materials, including virtual live classrooms, discussion forums and real-life case studies. Professionally developed learning materials, activities and access to digital resources are supported through the University’s virtual learning environment.

When combined with your work-based practise, you will advance your knowledge and skills in both academic and practical perspectives through the learning materials for each module. To help you further foster your learning you will be encouraged to share your experiences and professional views with other students, in discussion forums and webinars.

Personal Development Planning (PDP)

Throughout the course, you will develop critical self-analysis and reflective practice skills to enable you to undertake learning analysis and personal development planning.

The PDP element of the course will help you to:

• Be a lifelong learner who can set goals and identify resources for the purpose of learning
• Have the ability to critically review literature, including identifying the key developments in a certain area of study, as well as limitations and avenues for further development or explanation
• Be able to recognise and respond to opportunities for innovation
• Acquire leadership qualities and skills that relate directly to employment

Assessment method

The assessments on the programme are designed to test the module learning outcomes, which are derived from the module content, programme aims and professional body standards. The summative assessments test the above, but also provide the opportunity to develop key practice skills. The assessments will require you to work both autonomously and in groups. As such, more traditional essays, technical reports, and a video presentation and a portfolio containing shorter exercises, are used to assess specific skills.

Multifaceted, practice related case studies are used that cover more than one topic area to enable you to develop your critical thinking and innovation over the breadth of environmental health. Additionally, you will apply practical solutions and interventions vital for professional practice. This approach ensures breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding required at this level of study.

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students
• Develop@Derby for study, personal and employability skills

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

A recent local government workforce survey indicated that about half of all local councils struggle to recruit and retain staff to carry out their statutory roles in relation to housing. This demand for suitable qualified staff is likely to increase along with the current rapid growth of the rented sector and student specific accommodation.

This new course will help you develop and use skills to improve the living conditions of a large portion of the population. You will gain expertise to mediate in disputes, enforce standards and crackdown on criminal and rogue landlords.

The primary career path for you is likely to be with local councils, housing associations and housing charities, and possible employment in the legal and planning realms.

This Housing Regulation University Diploma is a key stage of the CIEH Advanced Professional Certificate in the Private Rented Sector, which ultimately leads to Registration as a Housing Health Practitioner with the CIEH allowing you to pursue a career as a recognised housing professional.

Utilise our Careers and Employment Service​

Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for 3 years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.

You should have the following:

• GCSE English (or equivalent), and
• GCSE Maths (or equivalent)

Workplace sponsor

Applicants must have a workplace sponsor (typically a local authority or residential social landlord) who can offer work-based learning for the duration of your enrolment on the course. The sponsor must be able to fulfil all the training requirements of the CIEH Practice Log and allocate a Workplace Responsible Officer (WRO) to support and mentor you.

The workplace sponsor should ensure a high level of quality and consistency in your training and development to enable you to gain the required technical skills and competencies in housing health. You will demonstrate your work-based training and experience in the CIEH Practice Log.

The sponsor is responsible for ensuring that your work is carried out within a managed environment, and your development and performance against the competencies is monitored and signed off against the qualification assessment criteria.

A completed University Diploma in Housing Regulation (OLUDH) Workplace Training Form must be submitted together with your application for review by Admissions. See How to Apply.

English language qualifications

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 6.0 (with 5.5 in each skills test) or equivalent

Find out more about English language requirements

^‡2025/26 for new entrants

Starting between September 2025 and August 2026.

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this may be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from two payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying

• Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases

Apply directly to the University.

Apply now

For support with completing your application, view our guide to the application process.

Documents to support your application

In order for your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:

• Official photo identification such as a passport or driving licence
• Copies of certificates and transcripts or a letter of testimony for previous qualifications*
• Current CV / Employment history
• A University Diploma in Housing Regulation (OLUDH) Workplace Training Form completed by your employer and sent to our Admissions department from your employer’s work email account.

*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:

• Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• The date of the translation
• The full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the company
• The translator’s contact details

A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.

Please note: failure to submit any documentation when requested, may result in your application being withdrawn.

Application deadlines

All of our online courses have set start dates throughout the year. We require time to review your application and get back to you with a response before your course starts. Take a look at information regarding applying for an online course to see full details of deadlines and term dates.

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning: