Recommendation 10

Exempt accommodation can provide much-needed homes and support including for people recovering from drug or alcohol dependence; at risk of or transitioning to or from homelessness; or on release from the criminal justice system. However, the NAO found that some areas, such as Birmingham, have seen increasing numbers of landlords who circumvent the regulations, enabling them to profit by providing costly sub- standard housing with little or no support, supervision or care.15 Regulation of exempt accommodation is patchy and there are gaps meaning that some providers of supported housing have less scrutiny. In written evidence submitted to this Committee, the Local Government Association (LGA) told us of an increase in vulnerable people being housed in poor-quality houses of multiple occupancy, with unsuitable or no additional support 8 Q67 9 Q 3 10 Q33 and C&AG’s Report, The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015, Session 2022–23, HC 652, 8 September 2022 11 Q 28 12 Q 55 13 Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Committee Report, Exempt Accommodation, Third Report of Session 2022–23, HC 21, 27 October 2022 14 Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Committee Report, Exempt Accommodation, Third Report of Session 2022–23, HC 21, 27 October 2022 15 C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 10 Supported housing provided.16 It feels that this has had a significant, detrimental impact on vulnerable people. The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) told us that “the impact of poor-quality provision is felt most directly by residents within the schemes, and often also by local communities around them”.17