Roundtable event focuses on tackling crime and poor standards in supported housing

Birmingham City Council hosted a round table event yesterday (9 July) with key local and national partners on the issue of Supported Exempt Accommodation, which has been a source of crime and antisocial behaviour in the city.

Alison McGovern, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, chaired the roundtable discussion, with attendance from local MPs, West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service, Department for Work and Pensions, Ministry of Justice, HMRC, Charity Commission and the Regulator for Social Housing.

Supported Exempt Accommodation is a form of supported housing provided by not-for-profit Housing Associations, charities or community interest companies for those who require additional support and care. Birmingham is home to the largest concentration of supported housing in England, with more than 33,000 units across 12,000 properties. The number of units has tripled since 2017.

The council has investigated 7,000 complaints related to the sector, nearly half of which are related to antisocial behaviour and crime. The rest of the complaints related to poor property standards and a lack of support for those living in the accommodation.

Speaking at the roundtable, Cllr Roger Harmer, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said the scale and concentration of Supported Exempt Accommodation was harming the city.

“Unscrupulous rogue providers have done harm to Birmingham, damaging the fabric of local communities and failing those who live in this type of accommodation.

“Several neighbourhoods across Birmingham are suffering from the impact of having significant concentrations of people in need of substantial care and support, who are not getting that support.

 “Five of Birmingham’s six largest supported exempt accommodation providers have been found to be non-compliant by the regulator – this is unacceptable and cannot continue.

“The rapid and unchecked growth of Supported Exempt Accommodation in Birmingham has also contributed to the loss of thousands of much-needed family homes from the market.”

Cllr Roger Harmer went on to say that legislative support is needed to control the sector's growth.

“The round table has helped to identify ways agencies in Birmingham can better co-ordinate and share information together.

"However, we are clear that many issues with the sector will continue until additional legislative support is provided.  A property-based, mandatory licensing scheme is required to control growth of the sector, to raise standards, and protect both vulnerable residents and local communities.

“Such a scheme would help prevent the continued loss of family housing and give greater powers to councils to combat anti-social behaviour and crime.

“We urge the government to accelerate the implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 and to introduce a robust licensing scheme as soon as possible."

Birmingham City Council has already taken significant action using the powers currently available to it.

A specialist multi-agency team has been established to address the impacts associated with supported exempt accommodation.

Cllr Roger Harmer, added:

“Despite the limited powers available, we are taking decisive action to tackle the issues associated with the growth of the sector.

“Our specialist multi-agency team has investigated more than 7,000 complaints, secured evictions linked to criminality and anti-social behaviour, recovered £8.8 million in housing benefit, removed serious housing hazards and carried out vital safeguarding interventions.”