Stoke-on-Trent participated in the supported housing overview funded by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which was formerly known as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
This has led to a number of changes in the way the authority manages the provision of supporting housing across the city and Housing Benefit claims.
The review looked at all areas of supported housing, including accommodation, support and rental breakdowns. It also looked at the pathways in and out of supported accommodation and the wider provision of properties/accommodation across the city.
New supported housing schemes
A new simple, phased step by step process has been devised which providers of new schemes should follow, which includes a set of enquiry and information documents which accommodation providers are required to complete prior to new schemes becoming operational and tenants being placed.
- Step one – complete the initial enquiry form
- Step two – evidence of local need will be sought by the Supported Housing Review Team to ensure that there is a requirement for accommodation for this specific client group. If this is not required, then your application may not progress any further
- Step three – enquiry form SH3 will be issued for completion, which should be returned together with the required supplementary evidence
- Step four – property visits will take place to check the accommodation meets required safety standards before occupation
- Step 5 – due diligence checks will take place on the return of form SH3 in relation to the organisation, and at this point rent breakdowns/voids information will be requested
- Step 6 – an invitation to a panel meeting with officers from the City Council will be arranged where next steps that are required can be discussed and finalised
- Step 7 – following successful completion of the above steps, occupancy can take place and Housing Benefit claims can be submitted.
If your organisation does not satisfy the requirements to become a provider of supported housing, you will be advised of this in due course, and housing costs for residents will need to be sought via Universal Credit, which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Once housing schemes become operational, a site visit will take place within the first 3-6 months of operation to check that the support offered is being provided, and face to face support reviews with residents will be scheduled.
Enquiries
Any organisation/landlord who would like to enquire about opening a supported housing scheme, should, in the first instance complete the supported housing initial enquiry form using the link at the bottom of this page.
Due to the varying stages of the determination process and relevant due diligence checks required, a final decision can take a considerable length of time to conclude, therefore, it is recommended that you do not commit to any leases/acquire any property/move in any residents in connection with your application until you have received confirmation that you have been approved as a provider of ‘exempt’ supported accommodation.
Important information
Please note that your organisation must match one of the categories listed below; if it does not, you cannot be considered under this scheme and should not complete the enquiry form. This is in line with Housing Benefit legislation and residents will need to claim housing costs via Universal Credit -
- A non-metropolitan county council in England
- A housing association
- A registered charity
- A voluntary organisation