The Exempt Accommodation Project
A community of good practice that pays for itself.
Run by Supported Housing People, the Project brings registered providers, supported housing providers and local authorities together to raise quality and compliance. Around 3,000 units of supported housing are now managed within it, and it works as a Housing Benefit subsidy recovery mechanism that saves councils tens of millions of pounds a year.
How it works
Good providers, the right landlord, full subsidy.
We broker property leases and management agreements between local authority approved supported housing providers and registered providers. Where the landlord is not a registered provider, councils can usually reclaim only 60% of the amount a claim exceeds the appropriate LHA rate. With a registered provider as landlord, they can fully recover what they pay, and residents keep the service they rely on.
3,000units of supported housing managed within the Project
100%subsidy recovery for councils, not 60% of the excess
£10m+saved by councils every year: tens of millions
Our partners
Registered providers with supported housing in their DNA
Every registered provider in the Project is a stock-owning supported housing provider in its own right, with good regulatory standing. They are landlords who understand what supported housing residents need.
YMCAs
Several YMCA registered providers, with long histories of supported housing for young people and adults.
A former YMCA
A registered provider that grew out of the YMCA movement and continues its supported housing mission.
Domestic violence & abuse
A specialist registered provider of housing for people affected by domestic violence and abuse.
Mind
A Mind registered provider, bringing specialist mental health housing experience.
Who gains
Three partners, three kinds of value
The Project moves exempt accommodation away from fragmented delivery towards a coordinated, accountable system that works for residents and commissioners.
Providers
Proven operating models and compliance frameworks, stronger governance and outcomes measurement, and reduced financial and regulatory risk.
Registered providers
Well-run schemes, shared standards and a peer-led community of practice with providers who meet them.
Councils
Accurate eligibility assessment, better evidence for reasonable claims, earlier sight of poor provision, less admin and full subsidy.
Why it matters now
Built for the SHROA era.
Licensing will ask who manages and controls supported housing, whether they are fit and proper, and whether the service meets the National Supported Housing Standards. A community of practice with shared standards, clear management agreements and transparent governance is a strong starting point for all three.
Outcomes
What the Project delivers
For supported exempt accommodation (SEA) and temporary accommodation (TA) alike.
01
Better homes
Higher-quality supported housing for residents, with genuine care, support and supervision evidenced.
02
Less risk
Reduced financial and regulatory risk for providers, and stronger assurance for councils and the regulator.
03
Public money protected
Measurable savings to the public purse through subsidy reclaim, while lawful payments continue where provision meets requirements.
04
A credible sector
A more sustainable exempt accommodation sector that can answer its critics with evidence.
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