Norman Perry, the corporation's current boss, is due to retire next month.
Rouse, 35, advises the government on architecture and is understood to be close to deputy prime minister John Prescott.
He has been an outspoken critic of the corporation in the past, condemning the standardised design layouts it drew up to help boost the supply of affordable housing.
As chief executive, however, he will be faced with the task of convincing the government to retain faith in the organisation and rebuilding its reputation, which has suffered badly in recent years.
Last year the corporation lost out to the Audit Commission in a straight fight to see who would have responsibility for inspecting housing associations.
The government is currently running a major review of the quango, which it will complete just before Rouse arrives.
Rouse has enjoyed a swift rise through the political ranks since he began advising David Curry, housing minister under the last Tory government, at the age of 25.
During his four years at CABE, the organisation increased both its influence and remit. Last year it gave advice to 1400 individual building projects with a collective value of over £20bn.
Peter Dixon, chair of the Housing Corporation, said: "We had an excellent response to our search for a new chief executive and Jon was our choice from a very strong field. The calibre of the candidates is a very positive indication of the important role which the Housing Corporation has to play in the years ahead."
Rouse's salary will increase markedly after his move: he can earn up to £160,000 at the corporation, almost double what he gets at CABE.
Source
Housing Today
