Vulnerable individuals across England continue to live in unsafe and substandard supported housing, more than two years after a landmark law designed to protect them was passed. Charities and the MP behind the legislation are now issuing urgent calls for the government to implement the act, warning that delays are causing preventable harm and even deaths.
A Law in Limbo
The Supported Housing Act, a private member's bill introduced by Conservative MP Bob Blackman, received royal assent in 2022. The law was created specifically to tackle the scandal of so-called 'exempt' accommodation. This is a type of supported housing where landlords can claim significantly higher rates of housing benefit to house people with complex needs, such as those leaving prison, fleeing domestic abuse, or dealing with mental health and addiction issues.
However, the act has never been fully enacted. The government launched a consultation on the necessary regulations in February 2024, but has not yet published its response or set a clear timeline for implementation. This has left local authorities without the powers to enforce new standards and has allowed what campaigners describe as 'rogue' providers to continue operating.
Human Cost of Delay
The consequences of this legislative delay are severe and tangible. Jasmine Basran, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Crisis, reports hearing 'horror stories' from residents. These include properties infested with mould and mice, dozens of people sharing a single washing machine, and instances of abuse and intimidation.
Gill Taylor, who leads the Dying Homeless Project at the Museum of Homelessness, states there is 'real concern' that people are dying in these poor-quality settings. Her project recorded 36 deaths in exempt accommodation in 2024 across just 10 local authorities. With most councils not collecting this data, the true national figure is feared to be much higher.
'People are dying and people are suffering when they’re not dying, and nobody knows about it,' Taylor said. She emphasised the urgent need for better data collection to understand the scale of the problem.
Systemic Failures and Local Impact
The issue is particularly acute in cities like Birmingham, which has an estimated 30,000 exempt accommodation places. Some neighbourhoods have been transformed, with family homes converted into eight or nine-bed houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) to maximise housing benefit income. This concentration can exacerbate addiction and mental health issues, fuel anti-social behaviour, and place immense strain on local community services.
MP Bob Blackman expressed his frustration, stating he is 'increasingly anxious and angry' at the two-year drift. 'Rogue landlords are just making money hand over fist,' he warned, urging the government to act faster to introduce the act's promised minimum standards, licensing schemes, and a national advisory panel.
While some councils have attempted their own measures, campaigners argue a consistent national approach is essential. In Birmingham, five large providers dominate the market, all deemed 'non-compliant' by the Regulator of Social Housing. One now-bankrupt provider, Midland Livings CIC, was cited in a report for employing security guards after serious incidents, including alleged intimidation of tenants and unlawful entry to properties.
Government Response and the Path Forward
When questioned, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated: 'The Supported Housing Act is a priority for the government and implementation will begin next month – giving people the support they need and ensuring that providers consider the mix of people in their properties.'
They also pointed to the recently announced £124 million in additional funding for supported housing and the government's National Plan to End Homelessness. However, for those currently living in dangerous conditions and for the charities supporting them, concrete action and a firm implementation date cannot come soon enough to end what has been described as a national scandal.
