£20m to support councils to crack down on landlords

A £20 million government fund has been launched to support councils to crack down on landlords who profit through benefit claims but fail to support their vulnerable residents.

Supported housing provides accommodation alongside care, support, or supervision for residents who may have experience of homelessness, mental health issues or domestic abuse.

Poor performing landlords will need to improve and provide better accommodation and support or face enforcement action, including penalty charge notices of up to £30,000, prohibition orders on the most dangerous properties or even prosecution.

The funding will enable councils to step up inspection of accommodation standards and provide enhanced scrutiny of Housing Benefit claims to ensure they are reasonable. It will also improve local enforcement of the quality of accommodation and support to residents including supervision, advice, or help with life skills, to help tenants live independently in the community.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove MP said: "Time’s up for rogue landlords who take money from the taxpayer while exploiting vulnerable people.

"We are stepping in to help councils crack down on this appalling activity and I will be working closely with Bob Blackman MP on his Private Members’ Bill to deliver tough new laws to end this practice once and for all."

The Supported Housing Improvement Programme funds follows successful pilots in Birmingham, Blackburn, Darwen, Blackpool and Hull councils which helped them carry out over 1,000 property inspections of supported housing backed by over £5 million. A further £6m funding was award to these councils through the Supported Housing Programme in August 2022, to help them continue to build on their work here.