Chartered Institute of Housing
Encyclopedia
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for those working in the housing profession in the UK. It has a royal charter
, gained in 1984. Currently CIH has over 21,000 members, mostly in the UK but also overseas, notably in Hong Kong
. CIH's Interim Chief Executive is Grainia Long.
, in response to the revelation of the appalling housing conditions endured by much of the population in the 1884-1885 Royal Commission on the Housing of Working Classes. Hill established a method of letting properties on short-term tenancies and trained a group of women to manage the properties by collecting rents and dealing with repairs and tenants' welfare issues. The Association of Women Housing Workers, founded in 1916, carried on this pioneering work and housing advocate Irene Barclay
was a leading figure in it. The organisation changed its name to the Society of Housing Managers in 1948. The Institute of Housing was founded in 1931 by a group of local government offices in the West Midlands, who also developed a housing qualification and published the first edition of Housing magazine. The two merged in 1965 to form the Institute of Housing Managers. The organisation was renamed the Institute of Housing in 1974 and gained the appellation "Chartered" when its royal charter was granted in 1984. In 1999, CIH merged with the Institute of Rent Officers.
, West Midlands, with smaller offices in London
, Cardiff
, Edinburgh
, Belfast
, and Hong Kong
. Alongside its services to members it produces training, publications, conferences and seminars to organisations, members and non-members. CIH works with universities to develop housing qualifications, and provides distance learning courses.
CIH’s annual conference is held every June in Harrogate
. The conference includes an extensive exhibition and also hosts CIH’s AGM.
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
, gained in 1984. Currently CIH has over 21,000 members, mostly in the UK but also overseas, notably in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. CIH's Interim Chief Executive is Grainia Long.
History
The CIH traces its organisational roots back to the philanthropic work carried out by pioneers such as Octavia HillOctavia Hill
Octavia Hill was an English social reformer, whose main concern was the welfare of the inhabitants of cities, especially London, in the second half of the nineteenth century. Born into a family with a strong commitment to alleviating poverty, she herself grew up in straitened circumstances owing...
, in response to the revelation of the appalling housing conditions endured by much of the population in the 1884-1885 Royal Commission on the Housing of Working Classes. Hill established a method of letting properties on short-term tenancies and trained a group of women to manage the properties by collecting rents and dealing with repairs and tenants' welfare issues. The Association of Women Housing Workers, founded in 1916, carried on this pioneering work and housing advocate Irene Barclay
Irene Barclay
Irene Barclay was the first Woman in Britain to qualify as a chartered surveyor, following the passage of the Sex Disqualification Removal Act 1919...
was a leading figure in it. The organisation changed its name to the Society of Housing Managers in 1948. The Institute of Housing was founded in 1931 by a group of local government offices in the West Midlands, who also developed a housing qualification and published the first edition of Housing magazine. The two merged in 1965 to form the Institute of Housing Managers. The organisation was renamed the Institute of Housing in 1974 and gained the appellation "Chartered" when its royal charter was granted in 1984. In 1999, CIH merged with the Institute of Rent Officers.
CIH Today
CIH’s Head Office is in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, West Midlands, with smaller offices in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Alongside its services to members it produces training, publications, conferences and seminars to organisations, members and non-members. CIH works with universities to develop housing qualifications, and provides distance learning courses.
CIH’s annual conference is held every June in Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
. The conference includes an extensive exhibition and also hosts CIH’s AGM.