Exempt Accommodation Third Report of Session 2022–23

This is a House of Commons Committee report, with recommendations to government. 

The current system of exempt accommodation, a type of supported housing that is used to house a range of people with support needs, is a ‘complete mess’ that is failing too many residents and local communities at the expense of the taxpayer, says the cross-party Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee in the 'Exempt Accommodation Third Report of Session 2022–23' report.

The Committee’s report calls on the Government to bring forward a series of urgent reforms for the sector, including the introduction of enforceable national standards and compulsory registration, to help boost the quality of exempt accommodation and support services.

The report also calls for action to close the loopholes in the current system which “offers a licence to print money to those who wish to exploit it”.

The Committee’s report recommends that the Government:

• Introduce compulsory national minimum standards for exempt accommodation, including on referrals, care & support, and quality of housing
   
• Give local councils the powers and resources to enforce these standards
   
• Require all exempt accommodation providers to be registered
   
• Create a National Oversight Committee to join-up existing regulators and mend the current ‘patchwork regulation’ which has too many holes
   
• Ensure the providers of exempt accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse have recognised expertise to provide specialist support and a safe environment
   
• Review the system of exempt housing benefit claims and clamp down on the exploitation of the lease-based exempt accommodation model for profit