Home / Housing and rent
Housing and rent
We offer rooms, apartments and houses in two types of housing. Which one is right depends on how much support the person needs.
Standard home
For people who mainly need somewhere to live. A room in a shared house with bills included, a self-contained apartment or a house.
- Rent is paid by the housing part of Universal Credit, or by housing benefit for people who still claim it.
- The amount is set by the Local Housing Allowance rate for the area and the size of home the household needs.
- The person pays any difference between their help with rent and the rent.
- We give light touch help, such as setting up the claim and settling in.
Supported home
For people who need care, support or supervision to live safely. This is called supported exempt accommodation.
- Rent is paid by housing benefit from the local council, even for people on Universal Credit.
- Universal Credit still pays the person's living costs.
- The council sets the rent it will pay by looking at what is reasonable, not by the Local Housing Allowance rate.
- Our team provides the support, and it must be more than minimal.
The two types side by side
| Standard home | Supported home | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | People who mainly need a home | People who need care, support or supervision |
| Who pays the rent | Universal Credit housing costs, or housing benefit | Housing benefit from the local council |
| How much | Up to the Local Housing Allowance rate | A reasonable rent agreed by the council |
| What the rent covers | The home, and bills for rooms in shared houses | The home, bills, eligible service charges and intensive housing management |
| Support | Light touch help | Regular support from our team, with a signed support plan |
| Who pays for the support | No charge | Agreed with the referring council or agency |
Why it is called exempt
Supported exempt accommodation is exempt from the usual Local Housing Allowance limits. To qualify, the landlord must be a not-for-profit body such as a housing association, charity or voluntary organisation, and the landlord, or someone acting for it, must provide care, support or supervision.
Housing benefit cannot pay for the support itself. It pays for the home and the extra cost of managing it well.
What we give the council
- A rent breakdown that separates eligible and ineligible charges
- The lease for each property
- Signed and dated support plans
- Our staff structure and support hours
- A welcome for property visits at any time
New rules for supported housing
The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 will bring national standards and a licence from the local council for supported exempt accommodation in England. Housing benefit will be linked to the licence. The government plans to consult on the licensing rules in late 2026. We welcome these rules and are getting ready to meet them.
Questions we are often asked
Do you accept housing benefit and Universal Credit?
Yes. Rent for our standard homes is paid by the housing part of Universal Credit or by housing benefit. Rent for supported homes is paid by housing benefit from the local council.
What is supported exempt accommodation?
It is housing where the landlord, a not-for-profit body, also provides care, support or supervision. The rent is not limited by the Local Housing Allowance. The council decides a reasonable rent.
Can care leavers get the one bedroom rate?
Yes. Care leavers under 25 are exempt from the shared accommodation rate. On Universal Credit they can get the one bedroom rate even when they rent a room in a shared house.
Who pays for the support?
Housing benefit cannot pay for support. Support costs are agreed with the referring council or agency before the person moves in.
Do you provide personal care?
No. We provide housing support. We do not provide personal care.
Which areas do you cover?
We work across London, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and the South of England.