22 Accepted in Part

The government must require local authorities to conduct mandatory inspections before placing households in temporary...

Recommendation
The government must require local authorities to conduct mandatory inspections before placing households in temporary accommodation to determine that the accommodation they have arranged adequately caters for people’s physical and medical needs. The Government should also strengthen the statutory guidance for local authorities on the arrangements that should be put in place to support those with complex needs or who may be more at risk from living in temporary accommodation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73)
Government Response Summary
The government does not commit to mandatory inspections before placement but states that good temporary accommodation management involves inspections. It commits to strengthening statutory guidance by reviewing and updating the Care Act 2014 guidance and publishing new support guidance to improve practice for those with complex needs.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government Accepted in Part
55. We recognise that some people have specific needs that must be met for them to recover from homelessness and we expect councils to take all steps to ensure accommodation is suitable for household needs. As set out in our response to recommendation 3, local authorities must deliver their statutory duty to ensure the suitability of temporary accommodation consistently. Good temporary accommodation management will involve inspections as part of wider assessment of suitability prior to placements, and post-placement, will involve keeping a household’s needs under review. 56. We have consolidated homelessness and rough sleeping funding through our £2.7 billion Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant to enable councils to act flexibly according to local circumstances and the needs of people experiencing all forms of homelessness in their areas, including those with complex needs. 57. As part of the conditions attached to this grant, this funding can be used to provide supported accommodation for people with complex needs, temporary accommodation inspections and interventions that improve the quality of life in temporary accommodation, such as specialist support services. 58. The Homelessness Code of Guidance notes that proximity to essential support and health services are key to determining the suitability of the accommodation. To support this, local authorities must produce a policy on how they will procure and allocate sufficient temporary accommodation and ensure that it is suitable – including considering proximity to support services. 59. The Government’s Local Performance and Accountability toolkit details how temporary accommodation policies should be produced and notes that assessment of demand for temporary accommodation of different types should take into account demand for supported housing, to ensure they provide the range of accommodation needed, including for individuals with complex needs. 60. Supported housing has a particularly important role to play in making sure people can access the right accommodation and support to help them recover from homelessness. To increase the commissioning of vital support services and support the supply and viability of supported housing, we have targeted £159m at places most affected by homelessness and rough sleeping. 61. For the first time we are requiring all local housing authorities to assess demand for supported housing in their area and to publish this, alongside a plan to deliver accommodation, in a supported housing strategy. We have issued New Burdens funding and guidance to support councils to deliver this new duty. 62. People with complex needs require coordinated support alongside suitable accommodation. To strengthen this, we will review and update the Care Act 2014 statutory guidance, particularly on safeguarding responsibilities for those at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping. Alongside this, we will publish new support guidance to improve legal clarity and support more consistent, joined-up practice across housing, social care and safeguarding services. This will support earlier identification and response where an individual’s needs deteriorate, including for those living in temporary accommodation. 63. Government is taking wider action to support people with the most complex needs, including through funding a £55.8m second phase of the cross-government Changing Futures programme, working to test innovative approaches and improve how services join up to support people experiencing multiple disadvantage and complex needs. The new phase works in 18 areas, with local partnerships of health, housing, substance misuse, domestic abuse, criminal justice and voluntary sector services.
Addressee Bodies
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.3 yrs
Report published 22 Apr 2026