There are moments when the gap between what our systems promise and what they deliver becomes impossible to ignore. Supported housing in England is one such case. Designed to protect and uplift some of the most vulnerable people in our society, it has, in too many instances, become a vehicle for exploitation. That is not just a policy failure, it is a moral one.
Nearly a decade ago, I had the privilege of sponsoring the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. It was rooted in a simple principle: no-one should be left homeless. Since then, more than 1.6 million people have been prevented from becoming homeless. It demonstrated that when Parliament acts with clarity and purpose, lives can be transformed.
Legislation must evolve to meet new challenges. In recent years, mounting evidence has revealed deep flaws in the supported housing sector, particularly within so-called “exempt accommodation.” While the model allows providers to charge higher rents through housing benefit, on the basis that they deliver additional support for those in need, there has been no consistent or enforceable mechanism to ensure that proper support is actually provided. This loophole has been exploited by rogue landlord who prioritise profit over people.
The consequences are stark. Residents have reported being housed in overcrowded, unsafe conditions, often plagued by damp, mould and vermin. Others have been charged for support that simply does not exist which no ability to refuse. Some have even faced intimidation or been forced to leave, returning to homelessness to escape intolerable circumstances. These are not isolated cases and the evidence shows this is not only getting worse, but spreading to more cities in the UK.
Supported housing, when delivered properly, is one of the great strengths of our social system. It offers more than just a roof over someone’s head, it provides a pathway to independence. For those recovering from homelessness, escaping domestic abuse, or managing complex needs, it can be life changing. Good provision helps people find work, rebuild relationships and regain confidence. It reduces pressure on the NHS, the criminal justice system and emergency services. In short, it benefits us all.
That is precisely why the current situation is so unacceptable and why I sponsored the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act in 2023.
The Act provides a comprehensive framework to restore integrity to the sector. It introduces national standards for both accommodation and support, establishes a licensing regime for providers and empowers local authorities to enforce those standards. Crucially, it links eligibility for enhanced housing benefit to compliance, ensuring that public money supports only those who meet the required benchmarks. Yet since gaining Royal Assent in 2023, we are still waiting for its implementation.
Whilst the Government has taken important steps toward implementation, including committing to a national licensing system and a “fit and proper person” test for providers, the proposed timeline of beginning in April 2027, is simply too slow.
Every month of delay has real consequences. It means more vulnerable people placed in unsafe housing. It means more public money flowing into the hands of rogue landlords. It means failing to deliver on the promise we made when this legislation passed with cross-party support.
There is an opportunity to go further too. We must align funding with regulation. That means investing in support services, equipping local authorities with the resources they need to enforce the new system and ensuring that efforts to close rogue operations do not inadvertently increase homelessness.
Equally important is listening to those with lived experience. Time and again, residents tell us that good supported housing is about more than accommodation. It is about purpose, community and opportunity. These voices must shape the standards we set and the system we build.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset supported housing. We have done it before. The success of the Homelessness Reduction Act shows what is possible when we act decisively.
The Government must bring forward the necessary regulations without delay, meet the April 2027 deadline at the very latest and provide the funding required for effective implementation. There can be no excuses for further inaction.
At its heart, this is about people, people who have already faced profound hardship and who deserve better from us. They are not commodities and they must never again be treated as such.
The time for action is now.
