星空传媒

I agree with Lee Page (Letters, 1 August, page 18) that the CIH acts for the employer in all respects. Everything it does is geared to the employer; it is even impossible to take the CIH exams without the employer's agreement.

In its defence, the institute can only say that it "helps effective recognition of the housing profession" and that it runs training programmes and conferences. Recognition? The man in the street would be surprised to hear that there is a housing profession. Training and conferences? These are for the bigwigs, not the worker in the field.

It is not helpful for the ordinary person in housing that, in order to get promotion, they have to join an old pals' gang.