The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act came into effect this year. It is the biggest regulatory change in supported housing since the end of Supporting People funding and the Quality Assessment Framework.

The act has been introduced to ensure that supported housing accommodation is of good quality, meets at least the Decent Homes Standard and complies with the Housing, Health and Safety Ratings System (HHSRS). It also aims to ensure the support services are of good quality and provide tangible outcomes for residents.

The act makes provision for the implementation of national standards for supported housing and exempt accommodation providers. It also places a duty on local authorities to develop supported housing strategies and to introduce a licensing scheme for supported housing and exempt accommodation providers in their area.