The new Competence and Conduct Standard comes into force in October 2026.
For social housing providers, now is the time to make sure your policies, processes and training plans are ready.
We’re speaking to providers at very different stages of preparation. Some are well underway, while others are still working through what the Standard means in practice and what they need to put in place.
If that sounds familiar, there are three ways we can help!
What does the new Standard mean for providers?
The Competence and Conduct Standard is designed to ensure people working in social housing have the right skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to carry out their roles effectively.
That means looking beyond individual courses or qualifications and considering how competence is developed, assessed, evidenced and maintained across your organisation.
This includes:
- your Competence and Conduct Policy
- your Code of Conduct
- learning and development
- staff appraisals and performance reviews
- how managers assess and evidence competence
- qualification requirements for relevant roles
- how tenants help shape and scrutinise your approach
Turning regulatory requirements into a practical approach can take time, so we’ve developed a range of support to help.
1. Get our free Competence & Conduct Resource Pack
Me Learning and the Social Housing Academy have created a free resource pack to help providers prepare.
Developed with input from legal and housing professionals, it includes:
- Competence & Conduct Policy and Procedure
- Code of Conduct
- Social Housing Officer Learning Pathway Guide
- Monthly Competence & Conduct PDR Form
- Manager Guidance
- Staff Guidance
Whether you’re starting from scratch or reviewing what you already have, the pack gives you practical templates to work from.
2. Build staff knowledge with Housing Pro
Policies and processes are only part of the picture. Your teams also need the knowledge and confidence to apply them in practice.
Housing Pro is a 10 course e-learning programme developed by Me Learning in partnership with the Social Housing Academy specifically for frontline staff and learners who don’t yet require a Level 4/5 qualification.
It covers key areas including allocations and lettings, tenancy management, breaches of tenancy, safety and quality, vulnerable customers, antisocial behaviour, complaints and more.
The programme helps frontline staff build consistent knowledge across housing management and gives organisations a structured way to support and evidence ongoing competence.
3. Book a free 45-minute consultancy session
If you need help working through what the Standard means for your organisation, you can also book a free 45-minute consultancy session with Amy Stirton.
Amy is a qualified solicitor specialising in social housing, with more than a decade of experience advising registered providers, and leads the Social Housing Academy.
The session is an opportunity to discuss where you are now, identify potential gaps and consider the practical steps you may need to take before October.
Are you ready for October?
If there are still gaps to address, we can help you move from regulatory requirements to a practical plan.
Request your free resource pack, explore Housing Pro or book your free consultancy session by clicking the button below.
