The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023
We were one of the key national stakeholders that lobbied the government to introduce better regulation and oversight of supported housing.
This resulted in the government introducing the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.
The Act came into force on 29 August 2023 but is subject to further consultation before it is implemented.
The aims of the Act include:
- requiring local councils to set up licensing schemes for SEA accommodation providers
- regulations around property standards and the support provided to vulnerable tenants
- creating a national expert advisory panel to advise on matters related to supported housing
- requiring local councils in England to review supported housing in their areas and develop strategies to understand the current and future needs within their districts
- changing laws that currently define people as ‘intentionally homeless’ when leaving unsuitable supported exempt accommodation (SEA)
- the sharing of information relating to licensing between local councils, regulators, and government bodies
Consultation
The government held a 12-week consultation on improving standards in supported housing, which closed on 15 May 2025. Their response was published on 16 April 2026.
View the supported housing regulation consultation government response.
A further consultation on how the proposed Supported Housing Licensing Scheme will work in practice is expected to take place in late 2026.
The scheme is currently expected to be introduced in 2027 or 2028, alongside new funding to help local councils implement the new requirements.
If you have any questions about the consultation, email SupportedHousingConsultations@communities.gov.uk.
Supported Housing Strategy
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has asked all local councils to produce a Housing Needs Assessment and a 5-year Supported Housing Strategy by April 2027.
Read the statutory guidance for councils in England on Local Supported Housing Strategies.
We have appointed Housing LIN Enterprise Ltd to carry out this work on our behalf.
We want to make sure that the strategy reflects the needs and experiences of local people. Supported housing providers, residents, community groups, and other stakeholders will have opportunities to help shape the assessment and strategy.
Housing Needs Assessment
Birmingham has a large amount of supported exempt accommodation compared with many other areas.
To help make sure that the right types of housing are available in the right locations, the assessment will:
- identify the current and future need for supported housing in Birmingham
- assess how much supported housing is needed
- consider what types of accommodation and support are required
- identify where supported housing should be located across the city
- provide evidence to support the development of Birmingham's five-year Supported Housing Strategy
The findings will help us plan future supported housing provision and make sure it meets the needs of residents while supporting wider housing priorities across the city.
We continue to work closely with the government to help develop stronger regulation of supported housing. We are calling for the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act (SHROA) to provide effective powers to control oversupply, improve standards, support good-quality providers, and enable action to be taken against poor-quality accommodation where necessary.
Page last updated: 18 August 2026
