Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Third Report - Exempt Accommodation
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 21
Published 27 October 2022
Recommendations
6
Acknowledged
Para 55
Within twelve months of the publication of this report, the Government should publish national standards,...
Recommendation
Within twelve months of the publication of this report, the Government should publish national standards, and give local authorities the power and resources to enforce these standards, in the following areas: • The referral process, which should include an assessment …
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Government Response Summary
The government will bring forward national standards for support and give local authorities the power to set up licensing schemes. Referral pathways, resident needs assessments, and information provision will be considered as part of developing licensing regulations and national support standards. They are also working to improve housing quality and reviewing the Decent Homes Standard and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7
Acknowledged
Para 56
Consideration should be given to an accreditation scheme for providers, implemented on a graded basis,...
Recommendation
Consideration should be given to an accreditation scheme for providers, implemented on a graded basis, so that councils can assess the quality of provision in their area and so that poorer quality providers can improve.
Government Response Summary
The licensing regime, national standards for support and strategic plans in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill will enable local authorities to identify issues, and local authorities may choose to set up accreditation schemes. The government will also ask whether additional measures outside of licensing schemes would support compliance with the national standards, and will keep this closely under review.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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13
Acknowledged
Para 83
Within twelve months of publication of this report, the Government must organise the collection, collation...
Recommendation
Within twelve months of publication of this report, the Government must organise the collection, collation and publication of annual statistics at a local authority level on the following: • The number of exempt accommodation claimants; • The number of exempt …
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Government Response Summary
The government has commissioned research to assess the supported housing sector, to be published by the end of 2023, which will consider systematically collecting and publishing data. DWP has made changes to Housing Benefit data collection and is funding local authority reviews of Housing Benefit stock, and the local authority strategic plans and licensing schemes are expected to improve the evidence base.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Conclusions (7)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 31
An unknown but significant number of residents’ experiences of exempt accommodation are beyond disgraceful. Taxpayers’ money is being spent on uncapped housing benefit on the understanding that residents, who are usually vulnerable, receive some care, support, or supervision—yet it is clear that some people’s situations actually deteriorate as a result …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to protect vulnerable residents of exempt accommodation, highlighting existing duties on local authorities within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the national supported housing standards and will consider the interaction between licensing, national standards and Housing Benefit regulations.
2
Conclusion
Para 32
Since areas with high concentrations of exempt accommodation can attract anti- social behaviour, crime, rubbish, and vermin, neighbours and communities are affected negatively as well as residents. These impacts risk undermining local support for supported housing.
3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 33
It is egregious that organisations with no expertise are able to target survivors of domestic abuse and their children and provide neither specialist support nor an appropriate or safe environment. Where a prospective resident of exempt accommodation is a survivor of domestic abuse, there must be a requirement that housing …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to protect survivors of domestic abuse in exempt accommodation, highlighting existing duties on local authorities within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the national supported housing standards and will consider the interaction between licensing, national standards and Housing Benefit regulations.
4
Conclusion
Due to the scarcity of data on exempt accommodation, our inquiry was unable to establish how widespread the very worst experiences are either among residents or among local communities. Where the very worst experiences are occurring, this points to a complete breakdown of the system which calls for immediate action …
10
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 59
The different regulators have oversight for different aspects of exempt accommodation, and this means it is not simple to include oversight of exempt accommodation under a single regulator. However, the existing regulators are experts in their own areas and may be able to improve oversight of exempt accommodation if they …
Government Response Summary
The government has committed to establishing a Supported Housing Advisory Panel to provide advice on the regulatory oversight of supported housing and to bring together key stakeholders.
12
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 82
The dearth of data on exempt accommodation shows how successive Governments have been caught sleeping. The Government does not know how much exempt accommodation there is or how many people live in exempt accommodation. The Government claims that poor providers are a minority but has no data to back this …
Government Response Summary
The government has commissioned research to assess the supported housing sector, to be published by the end of 2023, which will consider systematically collecting and publishing data. DWP has made changes to Housing Benefit data collection and is funding local authority reviews of Housing Benefit stock, and the local authority strategic plans and licensing schemes are expected to improve the evidence base.
14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 84
The Government has no idea how much taxpayer money is spent on exempt accommodation, nor what this money is spent on. It cannot know whether the current system is delivering value for money. Millions of pounds are being poured into exempt housing benefit with no guarantee that vulnerable residents will …
Government Response Summary
The government has commissioned research to assess the supported housing sector, to be published by the end of 2023, which will consider systematically collecting and publishing data. DWP has made changes to Housing Benefit data collection and is funding local authority reviews of Housing Benefit stock, and the local authority strategic plans and licensing schemes are expected to improve the evidence base.