The 2023 Act Gets Teeth (SHROA)

PART 1: WEEKLY ROUNDUP — TOP 5 (FREE TIER)

1. Devonshires: Local Supported Housing Strategies — New Statutory Requirements Now Live

On 10 February 2026, MHCLG published new statutory guidance on Local Supported Housing Strategies under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, placing a legal duty on all local housing authorities in England to prepare and publish a supported housing strategy. Passle The guidance sets out a framework covering strategic priorities, partnership arrangements, needs assessment, and delivery plans, with the first strategy due by 31 March 2027 and updates every five years. Parallel Parliament Strategies must cover supported exempt accommodation as well as retirement and sheltered housing. The government is allocating £39 million in new burdens funding to local authorities to develop strategies and prepare for licensing and oversight functions. Parallel Parliament Social services authorities must assist their local housing authorities with delivery and take strategies into account when carrying out their own functions. Passle Devonshires advise that to comply with the March 2027 deadline, local authorities should already be in active preparation.

In this week's Deep Dive, we analyse what these strategies mean for providers — and why the needs assessment requirement could reshape the sector. Paid subscribers only.

Source: Devonshires Solicitors | GOV.UK Statutory Guidance

2. Councils Backed with £41m to Enforce Renters' Rights Act Against Rogue Landlords

Local authorities across England are receiving an additional £41 million to cover costs of new enforcement powers under the Renters' Rights Act. The funding was announced by MHCLG on 14 April and covered in Inside Housing on 15 April. The Act's Phase 1 provisions take effect on 1 May 2026, giving councils new statutory duties to enforce landlord legislation, backed by enhanced investigatory powers, expanded penalties of up to £40,000, and broader application of rent repayment orders. For supported housing, this is significant because many exempt accommodation providers operating in the private rented sector will fall within the scope of enhanced enforcement — particularly those whose "licences to occupy" are in reality assured tenancies. The funding should enable more robust action against substandard accommodation.

Sources: GOV.UK | Inside Housing

3. Temporary Accommodation Crisis Deepening: Supported Housing Shortfall Driving Longer Stays

Barnsley council figures show 141 households were placed in temporary accommodation between October and December 2025, a 17% rise on the previous quarter and well above the target of 115. Council officers warned that a lack of long-term supported housing is making it harder to move people out of temporary accommodation, leading to longer stays in B&Bs and short-term settings. The Star Separately, analysis by Property118 reports that temporary accommodation costs nationally have tripled since 2016, with the gap between housing benefit subsidy and actual placement costs creating a structural funding problem for local authorities. Property118 The LGA has projected this subsidy gap could cost over £3 billion cumulatively from 2017/18 to 2029/30. Local Government Lawyer The pattern underlines the critical role that adequate supported housing supply plays in the wider homelessness system.

Sources: Barnsley Chronicle | Property118

4. Scottish Housing Regulator Warns of 'Systemic Failure' Risk in Homelessness Services

Inside Housing reports that Scotland's housing regulator has highlighted the risk of "systemic failure" in homelessness services. This follows CIH Scotland's call for greater "courage" in delivering the independent living agenda, alongside MSPs' earlier calls for a comprehensive review of the Scottish Housing Regulator. For supported housing providers operating north of the border, and for English practitioners watching Scottish policy as a leading indicator, this combination of regulatory alarm and political pressure for reform signals an intensifying focus on whether the current system can meet the needs of people requiring supported accommodation. The SHR has also announced a stakeholder engagement exercise to ensure regulation remains effective.

Sources: Inside Housing | CIH Blogs | Social Housing Magazine

5. Updated Guidance on Loss of Benefit as Penalty for Housing Benefit Fraud

GOV.UK has published updated guidance on loss of benefit as a penalty for benefit fraud offences. While not exclusively a supported housing development, this is directly relevant to the sector given the high proportion of residents claiming Housing Benefit and the ongoing focus on HB fraud in exempt accommodation. The guidance sets out the circumstances in which benefit can be reduced or withdrawn following a fraud conviction or administrative penalty, and the procedural requirements for local authorities administering these sanctions. Providers should be aware of the updated framework, particularly where residents in supported accommodation may be vulnerable to exploitation by third parties or may not fully understand the consequences of fraudulent claims.

Source: GOV.UK