1. The Government’s White Paper A Fairer Private Rented Sector (June 2022) is a precursor to a Renters Reform Bill (England). It includes a proposal to abolish ‘no fault’ evictions under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and replace it with a new tenancy system.1White Paper Paper A Fairer Private Rented Sector (June 2022)
2. More detailed proposals – including the exceptions to be made for supported accommodation providers are contained in the Government’s response to the 2019 consultation on abolishing section 21.
3. The table below contains extracts from the White Paper that are of relevance to the supported housing sector.
White Paper – supported housing extracts
2.1 The Decent Homes Standard in the PRS
Page 25
We have also announced our intention to introduce new powers for local councils to manage their local supported housing market and take action against poor quality providers, helping ensure residents receive the support they should expect.
Case study: better compliance and raising standards: a partnership with Blackpool
Page 26
With funding from DLUHC, the Council will recruit an expanded local enforcement team to tackle exploitation in the local Private Rented Sector and supported housing market, driving up housing quality and protecting the most vulnerable. At the same time, the Council will run an information campaign to make sure that landlords understand their responsibilities and tenants know their rights.
Alongside this enforcement drive, Homes England will join forces with Blackpool Council, using additional funding to explore regeneration opportunities to improve Blackpool’s housing stock and quality of place.
There will also be further support for residents in supported housing, with funding to better standards of support and drive out unscrupulous providers.
Supported Housing Improvement Programme
Page 26
To increase quality and value for money in supported housing, we will invest a total of £20 million to fund local councils facing some of the most acute challenges as part of a three year Supported Housing Improvement Programme. This programme will provide councils with the capacity and capability they need to address local challenges. Alongside this, we will increase the consistency and impact of local efforts to drive up the quality of supported housing by publishing best practice, based on the approaches that councils found most effective in driving up standards.
3.2 Reformed grounds for possession
Page 33
We will introduce new, specialist grounds for possession to make sure that those providing supported and temporary accommodation can continue to deliver vital services. We will also ensure that Private Registered Providers continue to have access to the same range of grounds as private landlords ….
Chapter 5: Better Compliance and Robust Enforcement
Page 45
We have: …
Funded local councils to boost their enforcement work. This includes awarding £6.7 million over the past five years to over 180 local councils to support innovation and a further £5.4m in 2020-2021 to five local councils to pilot improvements to supported housing.
Landlord experience
Page 75
The time taken for first hearings to be listed by the courts in cases of serious antisocial behaviour and in temporary and supported accommodation will be reduced, subject to Judicial agreement.
Glossary of key terms
Page 80
Supported housing: Accommodation where support, supervision or care is provided to help people live as independently as possible in the community.
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