Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Accepted
Lack of clear standards for supported housing licensing schemes risks inconsistency.
Recommendation
We suggested that the licensing schemes that local authorities were considering would turn out to be very different from each other, unless there was a clear standard to be followed. We were concerned about evidence that, in the absence of such a standard, some local authorities were already making decisions such as deciding not to continue funding charities that were doing an outstanding job in supplying housing for vulnerable people. We asked when the first license might be issued. MHCLG replied that it would depend on what the consultation revealed about the state of the regulations and how complex the licensing regime would be to implement. It suggested that the consultation was likely to last for several months, after which it would need to evaluate the responses and lay the appropriate regulations, before finally implementing the scheme. MHCLG argued that the general election had pushed back some of the timescales in a way that was “frustrating” but that it was committed to making this happen as quickly as possible. 53 51 Committee of Public Accounts, Supported housing, Seventy-Seventh Report of Session 2022–23, HC 1330, 10 November 2023; House of Commons Library, Supported exempt accommodation (England), September 2023 (page 4) 52 Q 6 53 Qq 7-11 20
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and has published a consultation on 20 February 2025, which includes proposals for a locally led licensing regime and National Supported Housing Standards, aiming for implementation by Summer 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2026 7.2 A consultation on the implementation of measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act was published on 20 February 2025 and is open for 12 weeks. This sets out proposals on a locally led licensing regime for supported housing and the National Supported Housing Standards. The consultation also seeks views on potentially linking Housing Benefit to the licensing regime in England, to new or existing frameworks in Scotland and Wales and defining care, support and supervision in Housing Benefit regulations in England, Scotland and Wales. Following the consultation, the government will issue a response as soon as possible.