Birmingham, Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill has today - 10th September 2024 - called a debate in Parliament on exempt accommodation, after years of dealing with various issues linked to these properties across the constituency.
This debate comes as Birmingham City Council reveals that it has cancelled 2,674 exempt claims in just the last couple of years.
Exempt accommodation is a type of supported accommodation that is often used for people with very few housing options, such as prison leavers, rough sleepers, and those experiencing substance misuse issues. Birmingham has the highest number of non-commissioned exempt accommodation in the country, with nearly 28,000 exempt claims across more than 9,000 properties.
The sector is also ballooning in the city - in 2018 there were just 11,000 exempt claims. This has attracted unscrupulous providers coming into the market and has had the consequence of distorting the local housing market in Birmingham, with the buying up of family homes to be converted into exempt.
In Birmingham, there have been various issues linked to exempt properties, and many of the city’s largest providers have been issued regulatory notices by the social housing regulator in recent years. Birmingham City Council’s records also back up the concerns raised by MPs and residents. The council states it has initiated 80 adult safeguarding reviews, and logged 1,700 community safety investigations and 48 arrests. £7.23 million has been recouped by the council in over-claimed Housing Benefit.
In 2021, Preet Kaur Gill worked with the police and residents to get the first problematic exempt accommodation closed down in the country - Saif Lodge in North Edgbaston.
After an explosion of antisocial behaviour in the area, Gill carried out a spot check of the property. On that inspection, she discovered 25 men and women, including ex-offenders, housed with severe issues ranging from addiction and substance misuse to mental health problems. Only one support worker was on duty, the hostel was manned only on weekdays, and the conditions were cold, filthy and cramped.
Many exempt properties in Birmingham function similarly to Saif Lodge. As it stands, exempt properties are only required to provide a “more than minimal” level of “care, support and supervision”. Preet Kaur Gill MP is calling for the new government to introduce strengthened regulations to ensure that rogue landlords are not able to rake in profits at residents’ and the taxpayer’s expense. At present, this is loosely defined in legislation and many providers are getting away with providing substandard support.
Preet Kaur Gill is calling for the government to consult and introduce fit for purpose regulations quickly, so that unscrupulous providers are unable to provide substandard levels of care to vulnerable individuals, and communities are protected from unchecked antisocial behaviour.
Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:
“Over the past decade, too many bad landlords have been getting into this sector for precisely the wrong reasons. They have exploited under-regulation, a Conservative housing crisis, and an epidemic of unmet need after years of council cuts.
“Our communities in Birmingham deserve neighbourhoods that are peaceful and safe, not epicentres of antisocial behaviour.
“I have called this debate to ask this new government to get on with the urgent task of reforming the exempt supported accommodation sector, where the previous government dithered and delayed.”
ENDS
Notes
Exempt Accommodation Westminster Hall Debate, 10th September 2024, 4:30pm. Watch live: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons
Data on exempt properties from July 2024 provided by Birmingham City Council:
Housing Inspection Team • HHSRS Inspections • Eviction Prevented • Cat 1s & Cat 2s |
2829 32 Cat 1 - 6068 - 97% removed. Cat 2 – 4764 - 97% removed |
Properties Decommissioned | 73 |
Adult Social Care • Support plan reviews • Safeguarding reviews |
2057 80 |
Community Safety • Investigations • Community Protection Warning • Evictions • Arrests |
1700 31 554 48 |
Planning Enforcement
|
355 22 |
Revenue and Benefits
|
£7.23m 34597 2674
17443 |
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