Introduction

  1. This is the first of a series of short blogs considering the outcome of the Government’s recent scrutiny of exempt accommodation and how things will change in the future as a result of their findings

“A complete and utter mess”

  1. These were the damning words used by Clive Betts, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee (“the Committee”) on 27th October this year when addressing the House of Commons in describing the state of exempt accommodation in the UK. The Committee, a departmental select committee, consists of five Labour MPs and six Conservative MPs from different constituencies throughout England.

  2. The Committee has recently undertaken many months of research on the state of exempt accommodation during which time they have reviewed extensive written and oral evidence from many different groups with inside knowledge of what is really happening in many parts of the UK within exempt accommodation schemes. The Committee’s inquiry sought to obtain more data about exempt accommodation and to explore the quality, regulation, value for money and geographical differences of exempt accommodation.

  3. The Committee received 120 written submissions and held three oral evidence sessions. Among the groups providing the evidence were representatives from different Councils, the CQC, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, providers, charities, regulators and individuals who had themselves lived in exempt accommodation. In addition, representatives from the Government were also consulted including Eddie Hughes (the then Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing), Cathy Page (Deputy Director for Supported Housing, Domestic Abuse and Home Adaptations, David Rutley (the then Minister for Welfare Delivery) and James Wolfe (the Director, Disability and Housing Support).

  4. With this wealth of evidence and first hand knowledge,the Committee have been able to compile a detailed report which was formerly published on 27th October 2022 (see https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmcomloc/21/ report.html).

What does the report look at?

  1. The report considers what exempt accommodation is in our society and who it is designed to benefit, how it is funded and what role the local government have in overseeing the distribution of the funds allocated to those claiming the enhanced rate of Housing Benefit that enables them to reside in exempt accommodation. The report also looks at the experiences of individuals living in exempt accommodation and those living in communities where exempt accommodation schemes have been set up.

  2. Of particular importance is the report’s analysis of the quality of exempt accommodation provision and how improvements can be made where necessary.

  3. Other issues addressed within the report include questions of planning and licensing and a consideration of the different types of models of exempt accommodation which are available to a provider and how well they work and whether they encourage an abuse of the exempt accommodation system.

What changes can we expect for exempt accommodation in the future?

  1. Clearly, the purpose of the new report by the Committee was to consider whether the current system of exempt accommodation is working well, or whether there are problems that need to be addressed and changes made.

  2. In this series, as well as looking at the detail of the report, we will also look at the recommendations made in the report that will assist the Government in making changes and improvements to the provision of exempt accommodation for the vulnerable adults who need the support it offers to them. We will also consider what safeguards might be put in place as a result of the findings of the Committee to ensure that exempt accommodation schemes provide residents with good quality accommodation in a safe and secure environment where they can receive the support they need to live as independently as possible.

MR Associates - February 2023