The Supported Housing Act: we’re on the starting line in the race for detail

However, at this stage of proceedings, I’d say the act raises more questions than it answers on how this will be achieved. I see everyone in the industry is still on the starting line, waiting for the details – and there is much to be done in the shaping and understanding of what comes next.

The devil will be in the detail, and only once this process is complete will we be able to analyse how these newly defined standards will be enforced and maintained.

A lot of this practical work of maintaining and enforcing standards is likely to be handed over to local authorities, and we know from our own experiences of working closely with Birmingham City Council that its resources are already stretched.

“Supported housing has, over time, become something of a dumping ground for people and properties. We must move away from this model if we are to raise industry standards”

In my experience, you can only set and maintain standards through continuous inspection and enforcement, and this takes time, money, patience and determination.

Sustain UK houses and supports 1,800 people in around 400 properties across Birmingham. Half of our staff members are dedicated to inspections, ensuring that homes are formally inspected around four times a year. They also work with home providers to raise standards when necessary.

This begs the question of who will inspect the 650,000 supported homes across the UK and shut down failing or negligent housing providers? And, crucially, what will happen to the thousands of vulnerable people they house?

Despite efforts to reduce the number of supported beds in Birmingham, the figure has continued to creep up across the city, as the exempt market is picking up a growing number of people forced out of the private rental sector. This is often due to rising rents, compounded by a shortage of properties.

Without wanting to sound negative, this only serves to further highlight that the problems we see in supported housing are yet another symptom of the housing market crisis.

Supported housing has, over time, become something of a dumping ground for people and properties. We must move away from this model if we are to raise industry standards.

“In my experience, you can only set and maintain standards through continuous inspection and enforcement, and this takes time, money, patience and determination”

This will be challenging. We are increasingly housing low-wage working people who are being categorised as under threat of homelessness by existing guidelines. This will be compounded by the fact that substance dependency and mental health issues are also on the rise.

But we are where we are and, at this stage, I’m very keen for Sustain UK to be part of the consultation process. I will look forward to the next stages of the act with a sense of cautious optimism.

Finally, I’m also hopeful that the Supported Housing Act will help reboot Sustain UK’s relationship with the Regulator of Social Housing. My instincts tell me that government-led standards and oversight will free the regulator to engage with the likes of Sustain UK more confidently, particularly in the knowledge that poor and rogue operators will hopefully be removed from the system.

Ian MacGregor, chief executive, Sustain UK