Local authorities are to receive new powers to help crack down on unscrupulous landlords who exploit vulnerable residents.

Over the weekend, the Government launched a £20m Supported Housing Improvement Programme to try and drive up the quality of supported housing available.

Supported housing provides accommodation to vulnerable people alongside care, support, or supervision.

While many people receive good quality support in supported housing, a minority of landlords provide very little help while charging extortionate rents.

Announcing the launch of the new programme, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) cited reports of landlords providing as little support as dropping off a box of cereal while claiming £250 per week in an area where the average rent is £80.

The Supported Housing Improvement Programme will provide minimum standards for support provided to residents in order to help their progress towards living independently.

It will also grant new powers to help councils better manage their local supported housing market and introduce changes to Housing Benefit regulations to seek to define care, support, and supervision.

Minister for rough sleeping and housing Eddie Hughes MP said: ‘We want vulnerable residents living in supported housing to have safe, appropriate accommodation, which meets their needs and can help them move onto more independent living.

‘I’m pleased to open our Supported Housing Improvement Programme for bids today. This will build on the momentum from our successful pilots, helping councils in the worst-affected areas to tackle bad quality and poor value for money in supported housing, while preserving good provision by responsible providers.’

Minister for welfare delivery, David Rutley MP said: ‘The welfare system acts as a safety net to help people, including those living in supported housing and the Improvement Programme further strengthens that.

‘Having a settled home gives people the security to improve their lives by getting on the employment ladder or taking other steps towards financial independence.

‘This, supported by changes we recently announced which will give people on benefits the choice of putting money towards a deposit, provides the chance to make progress on the pathway to home ownership.’