Chartered Institute of Housing

The Chartered Institute of Housing Ireland (CIH Ireland) is calling for the implementation of five strategic actions to help support a more recognised, skilled, and resilient housing profession capable of meeting Ireland's evolving housing challenges, following its release of a new report, called Elevating Excellence: The State of Housing Professionalism in Ireland. The full research report is available here.

Applications are now open for the CIH Welsh Housing Awards 2026, sponsored by Aico. The awards recognise the passion, skill and dedication that goes into creating ground-breaking projects, sustainable homes and vital support to tenants, customers and communities across Wales. This year’s ceremony will be held at the Glamorgan County Cricket Club in Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on Thursday 19 November 2026.

A major new report released by the Wastewater Infrastructure Group (WIG) has warned that Northern Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure constraints are now acting as a significant brake on housing delivery, investment, regeneration, and long-term economic growth. The report, entitled Wastewater Constraints and the Cost of Delay in Northern Ireland: An Economy with the Brakes On, was launched at The Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

Yesterday, Andy Burnham MP gave his first major speech since he was elected in Makerfield, and in his capacity as a candidate to become the next Prime Minister. His speech centred on making housing the top national priority, arguing that access to safe, secure and affordable homes is fundamental to improving health, education, inequality and economic growth. CIH strongly supports his decision to place housing at the centre of his political vision.

CIH has today welcomed the repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 in England and Wales, marking the end of a 200-year-old law that criminalised people for sleeping rough or begging. The repeal comes into effect alongside commencement of measures under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent in April. This new legislation will instead target real crimes, such as organised begging by gangs and trespassing, protecting communities without penalising vulnerable people.

More than 70,000 babies in England – equivalent to one in every six – are living in overheated homes, according to new analysis by the National Housing Federation (NHF) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). These infants are among the 1.6 million children currently living in overheated homes; a problem driven by rising temperatures across England in recent years, linked to climate change.

The importance of housing in supporting good health is the focus for this year’s Scottish Housing Day, which takes place across the country on Wednesday 16 September. Scottish Housing Day is an annual event which aims to raise awareness of the challenges and successes in Scotland’s housing sector, as well as encouraging the sector and members of the public to get involved by organising events, Q&A sessions, and sharing stories and blogs via social media.

Welsh Government’s first supplementary budget for 2026/27 includes an additional £20 million in capital investment to support the delivery of more social homes in Wales.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had responded to recommendation put forward in the Housing, Community and Local Government Committee (HCLGC) report on housing conditions in temporary accommodation. CIH is pleased to see new government commitments on issues it raised in its submission. In most cases, it outlines where the government is already making investment and headway or has commitments to address in the National Plan to End Homelessness.

The annual CIH Scotland Housing Awards, sponsored by Aico, are now open for entries, recognising the creativity, passion and innovation of the individuals, organisations and projects that have made a difference to tenants, customers and communities throughout the year.