The Supported Housing Act 2023 has now received Royal Assent

The Act:

• requires local authorities to review exempt provision in their areas and to publish a local "supported housing strategy";
• gives the Secretary of State power to publish national standards relating to exempt accommodation; 
• includes powers for the Secretary of State to make licensing regulations to be exercised by local authorities (with consequences for non-compliant providers, including removing or restricting Housing Benefit entitlement); and
• amends s191 of the Housing Act 1996 to clarify that where someone leaves exempt accommodation due to poor conditions of care or standards of accommodation, they will not be deemed to have made themselves intentionally homeless.

The Act will come into force on 29 August 2023 and will require secondary legislation to implement many of its proposals but could mark the beginning of change for the exempt accommodation sector. 

To read more on this Exempt accommodation - the beginning of change?, Gemma Bell (devonshires.com)