Tag: housing benefit

“Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance are Support, Supervision and Sufficient”

New thinking in supported housing

“Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance are Support, Supervision and Sufficient”.

This note sets out the key case law underpinning a practical and defensible position for supported housing providers: that “Intensive housing management and maintenance are support, supervision and sufficient.” Remember where you heard that first!

This is in circumstances where supported housing providers are often told by DWP and revenues and benefits colleagues that “care, support or supervision are not HB-eligible”, and that Intensive housing management and maintenance are not sufficient on their own. This isn’t true. 

The End of the Property-Led Exempt Accommodation Contrivance?

I need to bring to your attention a very recent Upper Tribunal Judgment.

Some of you may recall a BBC Panorama programme from a few years ago (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62497015), which focused on the charity My Space Housing Solutions.  

I have, for a long time, written and spoken about property-led entryism into the supported housing ecosystem by property developers, portfolio owners, lettings agents, etc., who see big profits from housing benefit, but have no emotional commitment to supported housing. This could be the end of that business model, and the sooner the better.

What’s the Difference between Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance, and “Care, Support or Supervision”? 

Two staff members discuss a benefits application form in a busy office setting.

Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance are “Support and Supervision”.  Intensive Housing Management and maintenance are likely to be “more than minimal”, and there should be no requirement to provide additional CSS for the purposes of housing benefit or exempt accommodation compliance.

Supported Housing People December 2025 Supported Housing Update 

An update on the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act (SHROA), supported housing licensing, the DWP’s potential definition of “support”, the possible abolition of housing benefit, the Exempt Accommodation Project (EAP) and its role in helping councils manage subsidy recovery for supported housing and temporary accommodation, and as a “community of good practice”, and finally case law to show that intensive housing management and maintenance are “support”.