Supported housing
We work with providers of, and customers living in, supported housing to:
- inspect their accommodation to ensure it is in good condition and free from hazards.
- ensure the support provided is of a good quality, tailored to the individual's needs and helps them move towards independent living.
If you live in supported housing
If you have a concern about the standard of the home you are living in or the level of support you are receiving, please contact us.
Contact us
Fill in our simple online form.
Clock Completing this form takes around 5 minutes.
Contact Supported HousingAfter you've applied
Our team will get in touch with you.
Referrals to supported housing
You may be referred to supported housing. Referrals may be made by:
- the Housing Solutions Service if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness and in need of care, support or supervision.
- specialist workers already supporting you.
Some providers accept self-referrals.
Supported housing providers
If you are thinking of providing supported housing in Kirklees, please email SHIP@kirklees.gov.uk and we will send you a gateway assessment form to complete. We ask that you return this within 10 working days. This is then reviewed by the SHIP multi-disciplinary team.
Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP)
The Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP) is a government-funded initiative to:
- help councils have more oversight of supported housing within their district.
- drive up the standards of the accommodation and support provided.
We will be reviewing the supported exempt accommodation in our district and publishing a Supported Housing Strategy.
The Government will be developing standards for supported housing which may set minimum standards of:
- the type or condition of premises used for the provision of supported exempt accommodation, or
- the provision of care, support or supervision at supported exempt accommodation.
The government is proposing to introduce a licensing scheme for supported accommodation. Without a licence for a scheme, a supported housing provider would not be able to operate.
If a supported housing scheme has been inspected and approved as part of the SHIP inspections, it is possible that any licensing process may require a lighter touch approach than schemes which have had no previous inspection.
Relevant legislation
- Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006, Paragraphs 4 and 5.
- Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Supported Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 - amending Regulations effective 10 April 2014.
The amending regulations, from 10 April 2014, retained the definition of 'supported housing accommodation'. These were contained within paragraphs (4) and (5) of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006. The amending regulations included the definition within a wider definition of supported housing collectively termed 'specified accommodation'.
The amendments mean the 'housing costs' for accommodation within the remit of specified accommodation:
- will not be met under the housing element of Universal Credit
- will not be included in the benefit cap calculation.
Until the introduction of a new model for funding supported housing, housing costs for specified accommodation will be met through Housing Benefit.
Housing Benefit for supported housing accommodation is determined under the rules contained within paragraphs (4) and (5) of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006. Housing Benefit for the other categories of specified accommodation is determined under Housing Benefit Regulation 12B. Rules for the social rented sector apply when the landlord is a Registered Social Landlord and Local Housing Allowance rules apply when the landlord is a registered charity or voluntary organisation.
A resettlement place, or accommodation which is provided by a county council, housing association, registered charity or voluntary organisation where that body, or person acting on their behalf, provides the claimant with care, support or supervision on more than a minimal basis.
Cases which do not meet the definition of 'supported housing accommodation' solely because care support or supervision isn't provided by the landlord or on their behalf, often due to the funding/care structures in place Conditions apply in that:
- The property is provided by one of the specified social and third sector organisations as in category (1)
- The claimant is admitted upon the condition that they are in need of, and in agreement to receive, the care support or supervision that is attached to the accommodation.
- Care support or supervision cannot be 'floating support' provided in standard social or third sector housing.
An indication of need may be shown through the provision of public funding for the care support or supervision, although this is not a mandatory requirement. Another consideration would be if the accommodation has been commissioned designed or designated as supported housing by the local authority or other appropriate statutory body.
Temporary refuge accommodation provided by the same group of third and social sector landlords, but also a local authority, where the resident is accommodated because they are fleeing their home as a result of domestic violence. Domestic abuse does not need to be from within the household but other types of violence that may occur in a domestic setting, such as violence by a neighbour or landlord etc. There is no care support or supervision requirement. Some refuge accommodation may fall under categories (1) or (2).
Hostels provided by a local authority, where care, support or supervision is provided. A 'hostel is that defined in Housing Benefit Regulation 2(1) as that which is in domestic shared accommodation with either board or facilities for the preparation of food. Some hostels may fall under categories (1) or (2).'