The Capsticks Housing Diploma: building practical housing expertise

Supported by the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Diploma is the first housing development and regeneration qualification of its kind for the Social Housing and Local Government sectors. Delivered by Capsticks' specialist legal team, with support from external experts, it provides an understanding of the process of housing development, with a particular focus on its legal aspects and how they apply in practice.

Who is the Diploma for?

The Diploma is aimed at housing professionals already working across the social housing and local government sectors who want to develop their skills and knowledge, progress their careers and gain a deeper understanding of the role of a registered provider in housing development, regeneration and housing delivery.

Importantly, delegates do not need to be housing development experts before joining the course. Previous cohorts have included professionals ranging from newly appointed junior development officers and development managers through to senior staff and executive directors.

Senior Associate in Capsticks’ Housing Development team, Ahmed Akapo, said this is one of the biggest misconceptions about the Diploma:

The Diploma is designed for housing professionals who want to develop their knowledge and understanding in the relevant sector. You don’t need to be a lawyer, developer or technical specialist to benefit from the course. It’s about building your confidence and understanding, whatever your role. Don’t let your level of expertise hold you back.

Understanding the housing development journey

Instead of looking at one part of development in isolation, the Diploma takes delegates through the wider housing development journey.

Capsticks’ Head of Social Housing Governance, Partner Darren Hooker, said this is what makes the Diploma unique:

It takes delegates through from the very beginning of the history of the sector right through to the modern day, and covers all aspects.

Across 14 modules, delegates explore:

• the history and business of housing associations
• heads of terms, instructing solicitors, transaction structures and procurement
• tax issues
• scheme appraisals, regeneration and land-buying
• planning
• title and transfer considerations
• development agreements and build contracts
• section agreements
• specification and employers' requirements, Employers' Agents and the defects liability period
• governance, grant and regulation
• estate management, including sales, security charging, building safety and fire requirements
• housing management
• housing law, disrepair and anti-social behaviour
• disputes, barriers to development, contractual disputes and construction disputes.

For someone in a local authority housing team, for example, a greater understanding of land acquisition, planning, procurement and development agreements can provide useful context when working with colleagues, lawyers, developers and other partners. Knowledge of governance, regulation and housing management can then help build a clearer picture of the considerations that continue beyond the development phase.

Learning alongside working

Alongside its breadth, the Diploma also has a practical focus – giving housing professionals knowledge they can take from sessions and start using immediately in their day-to-day roles.

The 2027 Diploma runs from January to June, with one day of in-person learning each month at a central London venue, followed by an assessment. As well as making the programme manageable alongside delegates' existing roles, the monthly sessions give participants an opportunity to build a supportive network with colleagues from across the housing and local government sector.

Putting learning into practice

Following the taught element of the Diploma, participants have two months to complete the assessment.

Rather than solely testing theoretical knowledge, the assessment uses housing-focused case studies. Previous assessment material has covered areas including heads of terms, procurement and planning, requiring candidates to engage with realistic issues that could arise during housing development.

What do previous delegates say?

The clearest measure of practical learning is whether people use it once they are back at work. Henry Nettleton, Graduate Development Officer at Torus and a member of the Diploma’s initial cohort, said:

The course been really helpful at breaking down some really complex themes that we have to face as housing professionals. They have been laid out simply and easy to understand. With the information packs that we get, I have been referring to them quite a lot in my day-to-day work.

Khadija Shaikh, Development Assistant at Bernard Construction UK LLP and participant of the Diploma, said:

It gives you access to many different modules such as funding, expanding our social housing reach further than just the legal aspects, social aspects that are important in the housing sector and loopholes and that we can access to overcome difficulties. It's been an absolute privilege to join the team this year.

Another participant, Natasha Luchmun, described her experience below:

Attending the Capsticks Housing Diploma course has been highly rewarding and perfect for anyone interested in building a meaningful understanding of housing and the role of registered providers.

How do you apply?

For more information on course fees and to access the application form, click here: Capsticks Housing Diploma | Capsticks

If you have any questions about the Diploma, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.