Independence...Integrity...Value

Service Charges and Housing Benefit in Supported Housing

Briefing Paper

Supported Housing is a relatively high-cost form of housing. Landlords currently recover their costs through rents and service charges. Rents are often higher than in general needs housing and service charges are often quite high. Housing Benefit currently meets all the rent and service charges currently paid by eligible tenants.

The government has legislated to reduce rents in social housing, including supported housing from 2017. It is also introducing a cap on housing benefit at the level of the local housing allowance. These measures will reduce the amount of housing benefit that eligible tenants can claim and therefore reduce the income of the landlord threatening the viability of schemes.

The government is proposing a new funding mechanism for supported housing but the details have not yet been made available. This is creating uncertainty in the sector.

This briefing paper considers all aspects of Service Charges and Housing Benefit in Supported Housing, and includes the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing
  • Supported Housing and Universal Credit
  • Service Charges eligible for Benefit in Supported Housing
  • Supported Exempt Accommodation and Temporary Accommodation
  • Supported Housing, Rents and Further Welfare Reform
  • The Consultation Paper - November 2016
  • A new Framework for Future Supported Housing Costs
  • Intensive Housing Management
  • Conclusions

Your copy can be freely downloaded from HERE

Seaview House at Herne Bay, Kent. One of Canterbury City Council's sheltered housing schemes.

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