Supported exempt accommodation: current charge levels and provider process
Case reference FOI2026/01450
Received 22 June 2026
Published 17 July 2026
Request
This request concerns supported "exempt accommodation" — supported housing falling within the definition at Schedule 3, paragraph 4(10) of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006, where Housing Benefit meets rent and eligible service and support charges.
To keep this request within the cost limit, every question is intended to be answerable from a current summary report or system snapshot. I am NOT asking for any case-by-case file examination, any itemised breakdown of individual claims, any multi-year history, or any information identifying individual claimants or specific providers. Where a question cannot be answered as worded without exceeding the cost limit, please answer the nearest part that can be, rather than refusing the whole. Charge levels (primary)
1. As a current snapshot on the date you extract the data, for live Housing Benefit claims in supported exempt accommodation, please provide the lowest, average, median and highest WEEKLY eligible amount used in the Housing Benefit calculation, inclusive of core rent plus eligible service and support charges (i.e. the gross eligible figure).
2. If your system allows it from the same summary report, please give the same four figures (lowest, average, median, highest weekly gross eligible amount) restricted to claims where the landlord is NOT a registered provider of social housing (i.e. private landlords, community interest companies or charities). If this split is not readily available, please answer question 1 only. Provider process (secondary)
3. What is the process for a landlord or provider to have a property accepted as supported exempt accommodation by your authority? A brief description or a link to a published process is sufficient.
4. Which team or role within the authority assesses and decides whether accommodation qualifies as supported exempt accommodation?
5. How does your authority treat supported exempt accommodation for planning purposes — is there a standard use class or planning treatment applied, or is each site considered individually?
Please provide the information electronically.
If you intend to refuse any part under the cost limit, I would be grateful if you would tell me which part, so I can consider narrowing it.
Response
This request concerns supported "exempt accommodation" — supported housing falling within the definition at Schedule 3, paragraph 4(10) of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006, where Housing Benefit meets rent and eligible service and support charges.
To keep this request within the cost limit, every question is intended to be answerable from a current summary report or system snapshot. I am NOT asking for any case-by-case file examination, any itemised breakdown of individual claims, any multi-year history, or any information identifying individual claimants or specific providers. Where a question cannot be answered as worded without exceeding the cost limit, please answer the nearest part that can be, rather than refusing the whole.
Charge levels (primary)
1. As a current snapshot on the date you extract the data, for live Housing Benefit claims in supported exempt accommodation, please provide the lowest, average, median and highest WEEKLY eligible amount used in the Housing Benefit calculation, inclusive of core rent plus eligible service and support charges (i.e. the gross eligible figure).
Answer: Lowest: £56.38
Average: £296.77
Median: £299.46
Highest: £532.64
2. If your system allows it from the same summary report, please give the same four figures (lowest, average, median, highest weekly gross eligible amount) restricted to claims where the landlord is NOT a registered provider of social housing (i.e. private landlords, community interest companies or charities). If this split is not readily available, please answer question 1 only.
Answer: Lowest: £173.74
Average: £378.10
Median: £410.66
Highest: £532.64
Provider process (secondary)
3. What is the process for a landlord or provider to have a property accepted as supported exempt accommodation by your authority? A brief description or a link to a published process is sufficient.
Answer: We review all new schemes to determine the landlord’s status, the support being provided and that the proposed rent and service charges are accurate and eligible for housing benefit. The reasonableness of rent and service charge are determined by managers within the Revenues and Benefits Section. Consideration is given to the total rent charged, the individual service charge amounts and any increases on previous years. Comparisons are made to other landlords of similar properties where appropriate.
4. Which team or role within the authority assesses and decides whether accommodation qualifies as supported exempt accommodation?
Answer: Revenues and Benefits Team.
5. How does your authority treat supported exempt accommodation for planning purposes — is there a standard use class or planning treatment applied, or is each site considered individually?
Answer: Accommodation would be considered individually. Supported Exempt Accommodation is based on both the tenant’s needs and the type of landlord so may be one individual room/house or a larger specialised scheme
Please provide the information electronically. If you intend to refuse any part under the cost limit, I would be grateful if you would tell me which part, so I can consider narrowing it.
Documents
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