Question
I thank the Minister for his answer. Residents in Wednesbury and Tipton are absolutely sick of family homes being turned into HMOs and—now that that is getting more difficult—into supported exempt accommodation, too. I have campaigned for more controls on HMOs since the day I was elected, but supported exempt accommodation is essentially unregulated. When will this Government bring in further controls on supported exempt accommodation?
Answer
I thank my hon. Friend for her question, and for all her campaigning to ensure that an article 4 direction is finally being introduced in Sandwell. On supported exempt accommodation, we published guidance for local authorities earlier this year on developing supported housing strategies. On 15 October, we launched a consultation on draft regulations for a supported housing licensing regime. That consultation closes on 10 December. I am sure that my hon. Friend the Minister for Homelessness, who is responsible for this policy area, will have heard the calls to expedite the laying of those regulations.
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The reply describes a concrete mechanism, a supported housing licensing regime, and gives draft regulations with a consultation running from 15 October to 10 December. It does not say when the controls will actually come into force, which is what the question asked about. The referral to the Minister, who will hear calls to speed up the regulations, gives no date, so the person asking would likely need to ask again for a timetable.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the Government will bring in further controls on supported exempt accommodation. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply names a concrete mechanism, a supported housing licensing regime with draft regulations consulted on from 15 October, and gives the consultation closing date of 10 December, but it never states when the controls will actually come into force, which is what 'when' asked for. The referral to the Minister, who will hear calls to expedite laying the regulations, gives no date. |