Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill

Advice, strategy and standards

1 Supported Housing Advisory Panel

(1)

The Secretary of State must appoint a panel of persons, to be known as “the
Supported Housing Advisory Panel”, to provide information and advice about
or in connection with supported exempt accommodation to—

(a)

the Secretary of State,

(b)

local housing authorities in England, and

(c)

social services authorities in England.

(2)

The persons appointed under subsection (1) must include—

(a)

at least one person who appears to the Secretary of State to represent
the interests of registered providers of social housing in England,

(b)

at least one person who appears to the Secretary of State to represent
the interests of local housing authorities in England,

(c)

at least one person who appears to the Secretary of State to represent
the interests of social services authorities in England,

(d)

at least one person who appears to the Secretary of State to represent
the interests of charities providing supported exempt accommodation,
and

(e)

at least one person who appears to the Secretary of State to represent
the interests of residents (or potential residents) of supported exempt
accommodation;

but the Secretary of State is not required to appoint different persons under
each of paragraphs (a) to (e) .

(3)

The Secretary of State must, after complying with subsection (2) , and after
consulting the existing members of the panel, appoint a person to chair the
panel, and the person becomes a member of the panel on appointment.

(4)

The Secretary of State must comply with subsections (1) to (3) before the end
of the period of one year beginning with the date on which this Act is passed.

(5)

The panel—

(a)

must provide information or advice on such matters within subsection
(1) , to such persons within that subsection, as the Secretary of State
may direct, and

(b)

subject to that, may provide such information or advice within
subsection (1) , to such persons within that subsection, as it considers
appropriate (whether or not requested to do so).

(6)

A member of the panel is to hold and vacate office in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the member’s appointment which—

(a)

must include provision requiring the member to declare any financial
or other personal interest relevant to the functions of the panel, and

(b)

may include provision under which the member is paid remuneration
or allowances.

(7)

A person appointed to the panel under subsection (1) or (3) —

(a)

is to be appointed for a term not exceeding five years, and

(b)

may, upon expiry of that term, be reappointed for one further term
not exceeding five years.

(8)

In this section “information and advice about or in connection with supported
exempt accommodation” includes information and advice about anything
which, in the view of the panel, could have a significant impact on the
provision or regulation of supported exempt accommodation.

2 Local supported housing strategies

(1)

A local housing authority in England must—

(a)

carry out a review of the supported exempt accommodation in its
district, and

(b)

in the light of that review, publish a strategy, to be known as a
“supported housing strategy”, for the provision of supported exempt
accommodation in its district.

(2)

A local housing authority—

(a)

must comply with subsection (1) before such date as may be specified
in regulations made by the Secretary of State, and

(b)

subsequently, must comply with that subsection before the end of
each five-year period beginning with the day on which it published
its most recent supported housing strategy.

(3)

A supported housing strategy must, in particular, include—

(a)

the local housing authority’s assessment of—

(i)

the current availability of supported exempt accommodation
in its district, and

(ii)

the likely need for supported exempt accommodation in its
district during the period of five years beginning with the date
on which the strategy is published;

(b)

such other matters as may be specified in regulations made by the
Secretary of State.

(4)

The social services authority in respect of a district in England must give the
local housing authority for that district (where that is a different authority)
such assistance in connection with the carrying out of its duties under this
section as the local housing authority may reasonably require.

(5)

A local housing authority in England must have regard to its supported
housing strategy in the exercise of its functions.

(6)

A social services authority in England must, in the exercise of its social services
functions—

(a)

where it is also a local housing authority, have regard to its supported
housing strategy, or

(b)

in any other case, have regard to the supported housing strategy of
each local housing authority in respect of whose district it is the social
services authority.

(7)

The Secretary of State may issue guidance—

(a)

applicable to local housing authorities or social services authorities
generally, or

(b)

applicable to specified descriptions of local housing authorities or
social services authorities,

in relation to the exercise of their functions under this section .

(8)

A local housing authority or a social services authority must have regard to
any guidance issued under subsection (7) that is applicable to it.

(9)

A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to
annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

3 National Supported Housing Standards

(1)

The Secretary of State may prepare and publish national standards for
England, to be known as “National Supported Housing Standards”, in relation
to any aspect of the provision of supported exempt accommodation.

(2)

National Supported Housing Standards may, in particular, set minimum
standards in respect of—

(a)

the type or condition of premises used for the provision of supported
exempt accommodation; or

(b)

the provision of care, support or supervision at supported exempt
accommodation.

(3)

The Secretary of State must keep National Supported Housing Standards
under review and may, whenever the Secretary of State considers
appropriate—

(a)

prepare and publish amended or replacement standards, or

(b)

withdraw standards.

(4)

The Secretary of State may publish or withdraw a standard by such means
as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for bringing the publication
or withdrawal to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

Licensing

4 Licensing regulations

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision under which a
person having control of, or managing, supported exempt accommodation—

(a)

that is within section 12 (2) , and

(b)

that is located in a district that is designated for the purposes of the
regulations,

must obtain and comply with a licence granted by the local housing authority
for the district.

(2)

If, at the end of the period of one year beginning with the day on which this
Act is passed, the power in subsection (1) is yet to be exercised, the Secretary
of State must publish, in such manner as the Secretary of State thinks fit, a
report setting out the progress that has been made towards doing so.

(3)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision under which a
person having control of, or managing, supported exempt accommodation—

(a)

that is not within section 12 (2) , and

(b)

that is located in a district that is designated for the purposes of the
regulations,

must obtain and comply with a licence granted by the local housing authority
for the district.

(4)

Regulations under subsection (1) or (3) —

(a)

must include provision under which a local housing authority may
designate its district for the purposes of the regulations,

(b)

may include provision requiring a local authority to designate its
district for the purposes of the regulations if conditions specified in
the regulations are met, and

(c)

may include provision under which the Secretary of State may
designate, or revoke a designation of, a local housing authority’s
district for the purposes of the regulations.

(5)

The provision that may be made by virtue of subsection (4) (c) includes
provision for the Secretary of State to designate the district of every local
housing authority in England.

(6)

Regulations under subsection (1) or (3) must be made with a view to securing
that National Supported Housing Standards (if any) are met.

(7)

A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be
made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by
a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(8)

In this Act—

“
the licensing authority” means the local housing authority for a district
designated for the purposes of licensing regulations;

“
licensing regulations” means regulations under subsection (1) or (3) .

5 Further provision about licensing regulations

(1)

Licensing regulations may include—

(a)

provision about how a district is to be designated for the purposes of
the regulations, and the duration, review and revocation of a
designation;

(b)

provision about how an application for a licence is to be made, and
the circumstances in which a licence may be granted, varied or
revoked;

(c)

provision about conditions that may be attached to a licence;

(d)

provision about the enforcement of the regulations and of the
conditions attached to licences, including provision creating criminal
offences punishable with a fine;

(e)

provision about other consequences of compliance or non-compliance
with the regulations or with conditions attached to licences;

(f)

provision about exemptions from requirements that would otherwise
be imposed under or by virtue of the regulations;

(g)

provision requiring or permitting the licensing authority to charge
fees sufficient to meet the costs of performing any of the authority's
functions under or by virtue of the regulations;

(h)

provision conferring a discretion on the licensing authority;

(i)

provision about appeals against decisions made by the licensing
authority;

(j)

any other provision corresponding or similar to any provision relating
to licences contained in Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 (licensing of
houses in multiple occupation) or Part 3 of that Act (licensing of other
residential accommodation).

(2)

The provision that may be made by virtue of subsection (1) (b) includes—

(a)

provision requiring an application for a licence to be refused unless
the licensing authority is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper
person to be a person having control of, or managing, the
accommodation to which the licence relates;

(b)

provision requiring a licence to be revoked if the licensing authority
ceases to be so satisfied.

(3)

The conditions that may be attached to a licence by virtue of subsection (1) (c)
include—

(a)

conditions relating to the standard of accommodation;

(b)

conditions relating to the use of accommodation;

(c)

conditions requiring the carrying out of assessments of the needs of
residents (or potential residents) and relating to the conduct of such
assessments;

(d)

conditions relating to the provision of care, support or supervision;

(e)

conditions requiring compliance with National Supported Housing
Standards (whenever published).

(4)

The provision that may be made by virtue of subsection (1) (d) includes
provision for an offence under the regulations to be—

(a)

a relevant housing offence for the purposes of section 249A of the
Housing Act 2004 (financial penalties for certain housing offences in
England);

(b)

a banning order offence for the purposes of Chapters 2 and 3 of Part
2 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (banning orders and database
of rogue landlords etc);

(c)

an offence to which Chapter 4 of that Part of that Act (rent repayment
orders) applies.

(5)

The provision that may be made by virtue of subsection (1) (e) includes
provision—

(a)

disapplying any requirement relating to licences imposed by or under
Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 (licensing of houses in multiple
occupation) or Part 3 of that Act (licensing of other residential
accommodation),

(b)

removing or restricting an entitlement to housing benefit, or

(c)

limiting the rent that may be determined under section 14 of the
Housing Act 1988 (determination of rent by tribunal) in respect of
such accommodation.

(6)

Subsection (5) (b) is without prejudice to any other power to make subordinate
legislation relating to housing benefit.

(7)

Licensing regulations may—

(a)

amend, repeal or revoke any enactment;

(b)

make different provision for different purposes or different areas;

(c)

make supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional or saving
provision.

6 Consultation

(1)

The Secretary of State must consult the statutory consultees—

(a)

before first exercising the power in section 4 (1) to make licensing
regulations, and

(b)

before first exercising the power in section 4 (3) to make licensing
regulations.

(2)

The Secretary of State must, as part of a consultation under subsection (1) —

(a)

set out how the Secretary of State proposes to approach the matters
referred to in section 5 (1) (a) to (i) when making the licensing
regulations, and

(b)

ask the statutory consultees for their views on those proposals.

(3)

The Secretary of State must also, as part of a consultation under subsection
(1) , ask the statutory consultees for their views on—

(a)

whether the proposed regulations are likely to be an effective means
of securing that National Supported Housing Standards are met, and

(b)

any additional mechanisms for securing compliance with such
standards.

(4)

In this section “the statutory consultees” means—

(a)

each local housing authority in England,

(b)

each social services authority in England,

(c)

the National Housing Federation, and

(d)

the Regulator of Social Housing.

7 Local housing authority functions

A local housing authority must, in the exercise of its functions under licensing
regulations, have regard to—

(a)

National Supported Housing Standards (if any), and

(b)

any guidance issued by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this
section .

Planning and homelessness

8 Planning

The Secretary of State must, before the end of the period of three years
beginning with the date on which the first licensing regulations under section
4 (1) are made—

(a)

review the effect of licensing regulations under section 4 (1) on—

(i)

the type and condition of premises used for the provision of
accommodation within section 12 (2) , and

(ii)

the provision of care, support and supervision at such
accommodation, and

(b)

in the light of that review, consider whether to exercise the power in
section 55(2)(f) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (power
to specify use-class) to specify such accommodation as a class.

9 Homelessness

In section 191 of the Housing Act 1996 (becoming homeless intentionally),
after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

But a person does not become homeless intentionally if—

(a)

the accommodation the person ceases to occupy is supported
exempt accommodation,

(b)

the person’s reason for ceasing to occupy the accommodation
relates to the standard of the accommodation, or the standard
of care, support or supervision provided there, and

(c)

the accommodation, or the care, support or supervision
provided there, does not meet National Supported Housing
Standards.

“Supported exempt accommodation” has the meaning given by section
12 of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2022.”

Information

10 Sharing of information relating to supported exempt accommodation

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about the sharing
of information relating to supported exempt accommodation.

(2)

Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision requiring or authorising
a person within subsection (3) to provide information specified in the
regulations to another person within that subsection.

(3)

The persons are—

(a)

a local housing authority in England;

(b)

a registered provider of social housing in England;

(c)

the Regulator of Social Housing;

(d)

the Secretary of State.

(4)

Regulations under subsection (1) must provide that information obtained by
virtue of the regulations may be used only for a purpose connected with the
exercise of a function under or by virtue of this Act, or otherwise relating to
supported exempt accommodation.

(5)

Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that information obtained by
a local housing authority by virtue of the regulations may be provided to a
person who supplies services to the authority for a purpose mentioned in
subsection (4) .

(6)

Regulations under subsection (1) may not impose or confer a duty or power
requiring or authorising the provision or use of information where the
provision or use would (taking the duty or power into account) contravene
the data protection legislation.

(7)

A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (1) is subject
to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

11 Use of information obtained for certain statutory purposes

(1)

A local housing authority in England may use any information to which this
section applies—

(a)

for any purpose connected with the exercise of any of the authority’s
functions under or by virtue of this Act, or otherwise relating to
specified exempt accommodation, or

(b)

for the purpose of investigating whether any offence has been
committed by virtue of this Act.

(2)

This section applies to any information which has been obtained by the
authority in the exercise of functions under—

(a)

section 134 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (housing
benefit), or

(b)

Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (council tax).

(3)

This section does not authorise the use of information if the use would (taking
the powers conferred by this section into account) contravene the data
protection legislation.

Interpretation and final provisions

12 Meaning of “supported exempt accommodation”

(1)

In this Act “supported exempt accommodation” means—

(a)

accommodation within subsection (2) ,

(b)

managed properties in England,

(c)

refuges in England, or

(d)

local authority hostels in England.

(2)

The accommodation within this subsection is accommodation in England—

(a)

which is a resettlement place provided by persons to whom the
Secretary of State has given assistance by way of grant pursuant to
section 30 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (grants for resettlement places),
or

(b)

which is provided by—

(i)

a non-metropolitan county council in England,

(ii)

a housing association,

(iii)

a registered charity, or

(iv)

a voluntary organisation,

where that body, or a person acting on its behalf, also provides a
person resident in the accommodation with care, support or
supervision.

(3)

A “managed property” is accommodation—

(a)

which is provided by a relevant body,

(b)

into which a person has been admitted in order to meet a need for
care, support or supervision, and

(c)

where that person receives care, support or supervision.

(4)

A “refuge” is accommodation which—

(a)

is provided by a relevant authority or a relevant body to a person
because the person has left their home as a result of domestic violence,
and

(b)

consists of a building, or part of a building, which is used wholly or
mainly for the non-permanent accommodation of persons who have
left their homes as a result of domestic violence.

(5)

A “local authority hostel” is accommodation—

(a)

which would be a hostel within the meaning given by paragraph
29(10) of Schedule 4 to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I.
2013/376) (renters excepted from shared accommodation) but for it
being owned or managed by a relevant authority, and

(b)

where a person resident in the accommodation receives care, support
or supervision.

(6)

In this section —

“
domestic violence” has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the
Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213);

“
housing association” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Housing
Associations Act 1985;

“
non-metropolitan county council” has the meaning given by section 1
of the Local Government Act 1972;

“
relevant authority” means an authority administering housing benefit;

“
relevant body” means—

(a)

a council for a county in England for each part of whose area
there is a district council,

(b)

a housing association,

(c)

a registered charity, or

(d)

a voluntary organisation;

“
resettlement place” has the meaning given by section 30 of the Jobseekers
Act 1995.

13 Other interpretation etc

(1)

In this Act—

“
the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data
Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act);

“
district” has the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1985 (see section
2 of that Act);

“
the licensing authority” has the meaning given by section 4 (7) ;

“
licensing regulations” has the meaning given by section 4 (7) ;

“
local housing authority” has the same meaning as in the Housing Act
1985 (see section 1 of that Act);

“
person having control” has the same meaning as in the Housing Act
2004 (see section 263 of that Act);

“
person managing” has the same meaning as in the Housing Act 2004
(see section 263 of that Act);

“
registered provider of social housing” has the meaning given by section
80(2) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008;

“
social services authority” means a local authority for the purposes of
the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (see section 1 of that Act);

“
social services functions”, in relation to a social services authority, means
the social services functions of that authority for the purposes of the
Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (see section 2 of that Act).

(2)

Regulations under this Act are to be made by statutory instrument.

14 Commencement, extent and short title

(1)

This Act extends to England and Wales.

(2)

This Act comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning
with the day on which it is passed.

(3)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make transitional or saving provision
in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.

(4)

The power to make regulations under subsection (3) includes power to make
different provision for different purposes.

(5)

This Act may be cited as the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act
2023.