The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee has published a report into Exempt Accommodation which it says has left them “shocked and alarmed” at the state of the tenure.

The damning report says that, “in the worst instances the system involves the exploitation of vulnerable people who should be receiving support, while unscrupulous providers make excessive profits by capitalising on loopholes.”

Key findings include:

– The quality of some accommodation is “beyond disgraceful, and that some people’s situations actually deteriorate as a result of the shocking conditions in which they live.”

– There is compelling evidence that there needs to be national standards for referrals, support, and accommodation and that local authorities should be given the powers to enforce them within 12 months.

– A call for tougher regulation so that survivors of domestic abuse can only be cared for by organisations with the relevant accommodation.

– The current “patchwork regulation of exempt accommodation has too many holes” and a National Oversight Committee should be established.

– All providers of exempt accommodation should be registered with the Regulator of Social Housing, and the Regulator should make it easier for providers to do so.

– A lack of data on Exempt Accommodation makes it hard to establish the scale of the problem.

– The current system offers a “licence to print money” to those who wish to exploit it – especially via the lease-based model. A Government review is needed, with councils given powers to set rents at a reasonable level that meets the higher costs of managing exempt accommodation. Funding for support should be provided separately.

– Planning reforms are needed to help councils meet demand.

You can read the full report here.