Our key asks for the Supported Housing Act post-election

The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act became law in August 2023 and aims to tackle poor quality supported housing.

At the NHF, we support the aim of the Act to tackle poor quality exempt accommodation, whilst being committed to helping good quality providers of vital services have their voices heard and shape the details of the new regulations through the consultation process.  

The consultation period on how the Act will be implemented is pending and should continue now that the election has taken place. Ahead of this, we’ve put together a briefing on our key asks on the focus of the consultation period.  

Our key asks 

Ahead of the general election, we asked that the focus of the consultation period be on how to protect good quality supported housing, as well as how to help local authorities improve poor quality exempt accommodation.  
We think the consultation should focus on four factors: 

• Proportionality. 
• Affordability. 
• Meeting the costs of provision. 
• A strategic approach to supported housing.  

As a sector, we know that regulation is only one part of the solution. To create long-term sustainability, we need a commitment on the supply of homes, long-term strategic planning, and sustainable funding. As part of this, we’re asking the next government should ringfence funding for supported housing, committing to at least £1.6bn per year initially, rising to £3.4bn a year by 2040. 

Next steps  

The new government will publish a public consultation on how the new regulations will be implemented. A second public consultation will then include the draft regulations. 

At the NHF, we’re a named as a statutory consultee within the legislation, and our teams are ready to work with the new government to continue to ensure that housing providers are represented in shaping a new system that works for residents, housing providers and local authorities. 

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