Eddie Hughes, the minister for rough sleeping and housing, announced in Parliament that minimum standards will be established to make sure vulnerable individuals can get the support they need.
There is also the intention to change housing benefit regulations ‘to seek to define care, support and supervision to improve quality and value’.
Currently landlords invested in supported housing are exempt from local licencing regulations and housing benefit caps, which means providers are less accountable than in the regular private rented sector, while they can charge higher rents that are entirely covered through housing benefit.
There will be a £20 million Supported Housing Improvement Programme spanning three years, which will be open to bids from local authorities. This is intended to drive up the quality of supported housing in some of the worst areas.
Hughes said: “We are aware of a minority of landlords who charge high rents for poor quality accommodation and little or no support.
“I wish to inform the House of the Government’s intention to bring forward measures to put an end to unscrupulous landlords exploiting some of the most vulnerable in our society.
“We have no intention of penalising those providers who operate responsibly. We are clear that measures must be as targeted and proportionate as possible to protect supply of housing across the board.”
The new measures will come into force “when parliamentary time allows”.
Supported housing is a housing scheme where housing, support and sometimes care services are provided as a package.
This can include support with health needs, including mental health, drug and alcohol use, managing benefits and debt, developing daily living skills, as well as accessing education, training and employment.
