Ministers were called upon to take “decisive” action to prevent the continued payment of public money to unscrupulous housing providers following an investigation by The Independent and OpenDemocracy. Our investigation has revealed that more than 2 132 million has been given as housing allowance to unscrupulous providers of “excluded accommodation” who are supposed to provide shelter to vulnerable people, such as women who have abandoned domestic abuse, the homeless and those who are leaving care. According to regulations, exempt accommodation providers must be non-profit entities, such as housing associations or registered charities that provide “care, support or supervision”. The survey found that the bosses of some of these nonprofits make their own money through a vacuum – with large payments to private companies affiliated with their own directors or founders. In March, Housing Secretary Eddie Hughes unveiled plans to set minimum support standards for residents, as well as changes to housing regulations to “seek to define care, support and supervision.” He said the package included giving new powers to local authorities in England to “better manage the locally supported housing market and ensure that rogue landlords cannot exploit the system to the detriment of vulnerable residents and taxpayers”. However, he said that “any measures required by law” will be introduced “when parliamentary time allows”. Matt Downie, chief executive of the housing charity Crisis, warned that “acting slowly or not at all” would mean the “human destruction of tens of thousands of people living in misery, intimidated by their owners and support workers”. . [and] unable to continue their lives “. “We are constantly hearing about anti-social behavior, the constant calls of the police and ambulances; neighbors are desperately worried about the abuse of women in these places. [and] “Organized crime is widespread,” he added. “The scale of this issue requires a coordinated and urgent response in terms of both legislation and government funding, which… recognizes that there is a scale of human suffering and harm in the neighborhoods and, frankly, the ability of local authorities to address with what… no one can deal with right now. And decisive and generous action is needed. “ He also called for “clear and strong leverage” to be given to the Social Housing Regulatory Authority to ensure that exempt accommodation was open for inspection and tenants would register. The number of households in excluded accommodation in the UK increased from 95,149 in May 2016 to 156,868 in May 2021, according to data revealed by Crisis. Labor MP Clive Bates warns taxpayer “torn” by “rogue” people (PA) Clive Betts, Labor MP and chairman of the Committee on Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, which is investigating the vacated accommodation and is due to publish a report this year, called on ministers to “urgently” address the issue or see more vulnerable people “At risk” and the taxpayer continues to be “torn”. “It is clearly a system that is failing and needs to change. “The money that goes to these, let’s say, controversial accommodation providers is impressive,” he said in light of the findings of research by The Independent and openDemocracy. “The taxpayer is torn apart by unscrupulous people and the system allows them to do so. “The danger, if they do not act, is this so-called system that continues, with people receiving awful accommodation, often vulnerable people being put at risk and public money being wasted.” More than 2 132 million in housing allowance has been paid to providers for exempt accommodation that is subject to decisions or notices from the Social Housing Regulatory Authority from 2018, the survey revealed. The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, cover 95 of more than 300 UK local authorities, which means that the actual number is likely to be much higher. A government spokesman said: “It is appalling that fraudulent landlords are taking advantage of the supported housing system to take advantage of the housing of vulnerable people who need help to live independently. “That is why we recently announced our intention to introduce new laws as soon as possible to crack down on rogue landlords, protect vulnerable residents and give councils stronger powers to intervene.”
