Exempt Accommodation

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Dec 2021 Closed: 5 Mar 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry aims to establish a clearer picture of the amount and quality of provision of exempt accommodation. This includes understanding the strengths and weaknesses of current provision and looking for recommendations on the changes that might be needed to improve exempt accommodation.
15 Recommendations
9 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
10 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
27 Oct
2022
4 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
4 Jul
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
Oral Evidence
Cathy Page · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities David Rutley · Department for Work and Pensions Eddie Hughes · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities James Wolfe · Department for Work and Pensions
Oral Evidence
Ashley Horsey · Commonweal Housing David Fensome · Concept Housing Association Denise Hatton · YMCA England & Wales Farah Nazeer · Women's Aid Federation of England Henry Meacock · St Petrocs Matt Downie · Crisis Sam Lister · Chartered Institute of Housing
Oral Evidence
Cllr Neil Jory · West Devon Borough Council Cllr Sharon Thompson · West Midlands Combined Authority Debbie Ivanova · Care Quality Commission (CQC) Guy Chaundy · Birmingham City Council Helen Clipsom · City Of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Jonathan Walters · Regulator of Social Housing Paul Latham · Charity Commission
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Exempt Accommodation HC 21 27 Oct 2022 24 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
11 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Exempt Accommodation
We recommend that a National Oversight Committee be urgently established to address the oversight issues...
We recommend that a National Oversight Committee be urgently established to address the oversight issues relating to exempt accommodation. Among its functions we expect that it would coordinate awareness of emerging issues, inform the development of policy in this area … Read more
Government Response
The government will establish a Supported Housing Advisory Panel through the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill to provide information and advice on the regulatory oversight of supported housing and bring together key stakeholders.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Exempt Accommodation
Providers of exempt accommodation are supposed to be not-for-profit, and there are many responsible providers,...
Providers of exempt accommodation are supposed to be not-for-profit, and there are many responsible providers, some of whom gave evidence to us. However, we also heard that the current system offers a licence to print money to those who wish … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees costs should be more transparent and will improve transparency through the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill; DWP intends to change Housing Benefit regulations to define ‘care, support and supervision’ to help local authorities drive up standards and ensure value for money.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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19 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Exempt Accommodation
The Government, in its written ministerial statement in March and in evidence to us, said...
The Government, in its written ministerial statement in March and in evidence to us, said it intends to take forward measures that will include new powers for local authorities to better manage their local supported housing market. We recommend that … Read more
Government Response
While there are no plans to make changes to use classes, the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill includes a proposed duty for local authorities to produce local supported housing strategies, and the Secretary of State will review the effect of licensing schemes in 3 years to determine if planning reform is required.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Exempt Accommodation
The multitude of models of exempt accommodation produces a complex landscape with no guarantee of...
The multitude of models of exempt accommodation produces a complex landscape with no guarantee of quality. We have heard concerns about the quality of non- commissioned exempt accommodation, but have also been provided with good examples of specialist non-commissioned providers. … Read more
Government Response
The government is introducing the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill to improve oversight and enable local authority licensing schemes, and will consult on additional measures to ensure compliance with national support standards. However, they believe these measures are better than mandatory registration, and while they won't change use classes, they will introduce a duty for local authorities to create local supported housing strategies and review licensing scheme effects in 3 years to determine if planning reform is needed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Exempt Accommodation
We also recommend that action be taken to address this complex landscape, by making it...
We also recommend that action be taken to address this complex landscape, by making it compulsory for all providers to be registered. A mechanism is required to ensure that there is better quality provision and that standards are maintained. Good … Read more
Government Response
The government states the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill will improve oversight via licensing schemes, and will consult on additional measures to ensure compliance with national standards. They do not agree with mandatory registration with the Regulator of Social Housing, but will ensure non-social housing providers are covered by the Decent Homes Standard.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 22 of 15 classified

Total 15 recs + 9 conclusions
Correspondence 10 letters
27 Jun 2023 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 20 June 2023 concerning the Government response to the Committee's report on Exempt Accommodation
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 6 January 2023 concerning the Government response to the Committee's report on Exempt Accommodation
Parliament page
12 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Welfare Delivery to the Chair dated 5 September 2022 concerning Exempt Accommodation data
Parliament page
6 Sep 2022 To committee Letter from the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Chair dated 27 July 2022 concerning data on Exempt Accommodation
Parliament page
13 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Comptroller and Auditor General dated 13 July 2022 concerning exempt accommodation data
Parliament page
13 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Welfare Delivery dated 13 July 2022 concerning exempt accommodation data
Parliament page
5 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 1 July 2022 concerning the Supported Housing Improvement Programme bidding prospectus
Parliament page
5 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Welfare Delivery to the Chair dated 30 June 2022 concerning exempt accommodation data
Parliament page
17 May 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions dated 17 May 2022 concerning data on exempt accommodation
Parliament page
8 Feb 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to the Chair dated 26 January 2022 concerning the Committee's inquiry into Exempt Accommodation
Parliament page