Supported Accommodation – Have your say?

The Government has launched an open consultation (Click Here) seeking views on the implementation of measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. It focuses on the details of a licensing regime and National Supported Housing Standards and includes content on Housing Benefit.

What is Supported Housing?
Supported housing is accommodation designed to help people with specific needs live as independently as possible while receiving necessary support. It typically serves individuals who are vulnerable due to age, disability, mental health conditions, or other challenges.

Support can range from low-level assistance (e.g., help with bills and tenancy management) to high-intensity care (e.g., 24/7 on-site support for those with complex needs).

Who Provides Supported Housing?
Supported housing can be provided by:

1. Housing Associations (Registered Providers) – Many housing associations run supported housing schemes, often in partnership with local authorities or charities.
2. Local Councils – Some local authorities provide supported housing directly or commission services from housing providers.
3. Charities & Non-Profit Organisations – Groups like Shelter, Mencap, and The Salvation Army run supported housing for various vulnerable groups.
4. Private Landlords & Specialist Providers – Some private landlords offer supported housing, often funded through housing benefit or local authority contracts.
5. NHS & Care Providers – For individuals with severe medical or mental health needs, supported housing may be linked to healthcare services.

Ministerial foreword

“This government is committed to improving the quality of supported housing to ensure all residents live in decent accommodation and receive the support they need.

At its best, this sector gives some of the most vulnerable people in our society the opportunity to live as independently as possible – helping improve their quality of life, their well-being, their health, and their employment prospects.

It also plays a critical role in reducing pressure on other key public services such as the NHS, the criminal justice system and social care.

And supported housing is at the forefront of this government’s wider commitment to end rough sleeping, support victims of domestic abuse, help those dealing with addiction problems, and provide older people with care.

Many providers offer safe and supportive environments for their residents, but a lack of effective regulation over the years has allowed unscrupulous and exploitative actors to enter the market.

These poor quality providers are letting down vulnerable residents by failing to give them the support they need while making a substantial profit at taxpayer’s expense.

These abuses have been allowed to go on for far too long, and the government is taking decisive action to end them – using the measures contained in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 to drive out rogue providers, improve standards for vulnerable people and deliver better value for taxpayers.

The Act, which was first introduced by Bob Blackman MP as a Private Members’ Bill in 2022 – and received Royal Assent in 2023 – will enable the government to set standards for residents’ support and give local authorities the powers they need to regulate providers effectively.

It also allows for the licensing scheme to be linked to Housing Benefit entitlement which will raise the quality of supported housing provision for residents and provide better value for money for the taxpayer.

Residents living in supported housing deserve good quality support and accommodation, wherever in the country they are living – and their interests are central to these changes.

But we know we must get the balance right – providing effective tools for local authorities to protect residents, while ensuring burdens don’t become too arduous for the many good providers in the market.

That is why it is vital we gather the views of those who know this sector best – providers, local authorities, regulators, tenant and provider organisations, and crucially, supported housing residents themselves.

This consultation is the first phase in delivering these much-needed reforms – and with your support we can deliver the effective change this sector desperately needs.

Thank you for taking part in this consultation – we look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Rushanara Ali MP
Parliamentary Under- Secretary (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP
Minister of State for Social Security and Disability (Department for Work and Pensions)

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