1. Local authorities are to carry out more frequent and thorough inspections of HB “exempt accommodation”.
2. Birmingham, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Hull councils are to receive over £6 million from the Government’s £20m 3-year Supported Housing Improvement Programme. This first allocation of funds was announced on 3 August 2022.1Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Press Release, £6 million funding to improve housing and support for vulnerable tenants, 3 Aug 2022
3. Other councils have also been invited to bid for money from this fund. The Supported Housing Improvement Programme Prospectus was issued on 2 July 2022.2Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, 2 July 2022, Supported Housing Improvement Programme prospectus The deadline to submit bids is 2 September 2022.
4. The expression of interest form accompanying the prospectus can be downloaded here.
5. On 2 July 2022 the Government also published guidance for local authorities on interventions to improve the quality of supported housing.3Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, 2 July 2022, Local authority interventions to improve quality in supported housing This is based on work undertaken by the five local authorities in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) supported housing pilots. The guidance aims to share learning from the pilots to improve quality and value for money in supported housing.
Martin Ward and Philip Parnham
25 August 2022
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