Advanced Private Sector Housing Regulation

Overview

This module is designed for those working in local authority private rented sector housing teams, across a range of professional backgrounds involved in regulating the private rented sector. It will help enhance your regulatory and associated knowledge and skills to deliver more effective strategies and interventions from initial inspection through to successful regulation. You will investigate the complex relationships between housing, health and safety and develop your leadership and effective partnership skills by working in the application and evaluation of legislative and wider remedies, applying correct evidential procedure in this dynamic policy area.

Taught by experienced lecturers and a selection of expert practitioners, this module uses a variety of teaching and learning methods and innovative resources to help develop your skills and competencies as a front line private sector housing regulator.

Upon successful completion of module you will receive written confirmation from Middlesex University. You should note that this module does not form part of our MSc Environmental Health and completion of the module does not enable enrolment onto the Masters course.

Course content

In this module you will cover the main legal requirements for housing, health and safety in privately rented housing, and understand the practical application of this knowledge. The syllabus will focus around:

• Housing, public health, health, safety and well-being
• Practical housing inspection to evaluate domestic living conditions
• Building construction, dilapidation and obsolescence
• Housing Act 2004, Housing and Planning Act 2016 and associated legislation and regulation, principles in applications, roles and responsibilities
• Strategic approaches to the private rented sector including licensing, Houses in Multiple Occupation and principles of Housing Health and Safety Rating System
• Tenants’ rights, advice and options, and landlords rights and obligations
• Stakeholders and effective partnerships in private rented housing; organisations, agencies and roles; professional behaviours, negotiation and communication
• Gathering and presenting criminal and civil evidence in private sector housing cases

Assessment

This module is highly interactive and you will be expected to invest at least 72 hours outside of the ‘formal’ teaching and learning sessions and work experience. You will complete formative assessments each week and actively participate during your local authority work experience which will be signed off by the employer.

There are three parts of the summative assessment, each of which must receive a pass grade.

1. An environmental health housing portfolio demonstrating knowledge and application of law and practice from inspection to preparation for a case together with critical reflection incorporating theory and evidence of effectiveness
2. A group presentation reviewing and providing solutions to challenges faced during the work experience
3. A signed proforma confirming 48 hours of active engagement and successful work experience.

How to apply

Our April cohort is now full

This module course is only open to those who have achieved successful study at Undergraduate level (Level 6) or demonstrable equivalent. This module is suitable for a range of officers with skills and experience working within a local authority regulatory context, including trading standards, housing need, planning enforcement, building control as well as those already working in environmental health.

Please note, you must also be currently working in a local private sector housing regulatory or advisory team and be able to actively participate in developing your coursework as above.

For further information and to be added to the waiting list, please contact the module leader Dr Jill Stewart.

Fees and funding

The fees below refer to the 2020/21 academic year unless otherwise stated.

• £975

You will have academic and practitioner tuition and support, access to the online Moodle shell and module materials, library and databases as well as a Kortext book.