The Problems with Exempt Accommodation

problems with exempt accommodation

This influx of the uninvited has led to significant pressure on local authorities and enhanced Housing Benefit. Alleged supported housing providers, whether connected to dubiously motivated private capital or not, have popped up all over the place, usually in the form of a CIC, and demanded enhanced Housing Benefit for alleged supported housing services that no one asked them to provide.

Problems Claiming Enhanced Housing Benefit?

Charities, voluntary organisations and registered providers (housing associations) that provide supported housing and/or tenancy sustainment services are entitled to Enhanced Housing Benefit to provide Intensive Housing Management. However, all things are not equal and some organisations are, in practice, more entitled than others.

The National Statement of Expectations for Supported Housing

The oversight of supported housing

It has been five years since the 2015 Comprehensive Spending Review suggested changes to the regulation and oversight of supported housing. The National Statement of Expectations for Supported Housing published on 20th October 2020 is an underwhelming development after this five year wait.

Claiming Enhanced Housing Benefit for Intensive Housing Management

The reason that Enhanced Housing Benefit is payable is because qualifying supported housing providers provide additional and more intensive housing management and maintenance services than would be the case in general needs rented housing. They do so because supported & sheltered housing residents have additional housing needs and supported housing itself has additional maintenance and services costs.

Exempt Accommodation, Specified Accommodation & Intensive Housing Management

Exempt accommodation & intensive housing management

To explain what Exempt and Specified Accommodation is and to make clear my view that most “Specified Accommodation” is actually “Exempt Accommodation”
To explain the Welfare Reform Act implications of Exempt and Specified Accommodation
To give comprehensive examples of Additional/Intensive Housing Management tasks and functions
To examine the future for Enhanced Housing Benefit and Additional/Intensive Housing Management