Ministers must avoid forcing high-quality supported housing providers from the market in their rush to tackle rogue landlords, peers have warned.
In a House of Lords debate on the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill last week, peers backed Government proposals to tackle unscrupulous landlords taking advantage of supported housing’s exemption from Local Housing Allowance ceilings.
The House of Commons’ levelling up select committee last year revealed how some landlords were charging huge amounts - £10,000 a week in one case - to house vulnerable residents in unsuitable, often poor quality, supported accommodation.
Ministers want to tackle the issue and have proposed tighter regulation by local authorities and fresh council enforcement powers.
But councils are concerned about the additional burden of collecting and sharing data, and enforcing new licensing schemes.
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