Recommendation 18

However, there is a risk of unintended consequences from the licensing scheme, including discouraging good quality supported housing providers. The NAO reported that some concerns had been raised by stakeholders, including from local authorities, that small or specialist non-commissioned supported housing providers may leave the sector or that it may force unscrupulous landlords to a different housing sector.36 DLUHC stressed to us that it is mindful of unintended consequences, in particular, the potential to create uncertainty and anxiety among providers which in turn, risks some people’s needs not being met. It acknowledged the need for a licensing regime that is robust enough to ensures that standards are being upheld, while not pushing good providers out of the market unnecessarily.