Supported Housing: Rents
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to tackle rent inflation in exempt accommodation schemes.
Answered by Alison McGovern
To improve value for money and the quality of support provided in supported housing, the government is introducing a council-led licensing scheme next year. We will shortly be consulting on draft regulations.
It is the responsibility of the local authority to assess Housing Benefit claims and determine the eligible rent and service charges that can be met through Housing Benefit. The rules around the scrutiny of claims, including claims from residents living in exempt accommodation, are set out in regulation and guidance.
The regulations for exempt accommodation allow local authorities to restrict the amount of Housing Benefit to the level of suitable alternative accommodation if they think the rent is considered unreasonably high or the accommodation is too large for the residents’ needs.
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