More than 6,000 complaints from concerned residents have laid bare a deepening crisis within Birmingham's 'supported accommodation' sector, a new city council report reveals. The complaints detail a litany of issues including crime, substandard living conditions, and a critical lack of support for vulnerable tenants.
A Sector in Crisis: Exploitation and Community Impact
The report, set to go before the council's homes overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday, January 15, focuses on the 'exempt' supported accommodation sector. This system allows providers to convert family homes into shared houses for people with support needs, funded by premium rates of housing benefit.
Community activists and investigations by BirminghamLive warn that the council's successes represent "the tip of the iceberg." Campaigners describe a sector still in chaos, ripe for exploitation by criminal gangs and profit-driven landlords. They fear communities have been permanently altered, with exempt properties and licensed HMOs now outnumbering family homes on many streets.
Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Harmer has labelled the situation a "scandalous failure of governance by central Government," arguing millions in public money is being transferred to unscrupulous landlords. He has called for the government to 'act now' on regulation.
Council Action and Limited Powers
A specialist, government-funded council team has been tackling the issue head-on. Their work has led to significant, yet seemingly insufficient, results:
- Investigation of 6,051 complaints (2,599 about anti-social behaviour/crime, 2,009 about property conditions, 1,451 about inadequate support).
- 82 arrests made in partnership with police and 975 evictions served.
- 4,313 property inspections uncovering over 15,779 serious hazards, nearly all remedied.
- 99 properties closed or refurbished after work with providers.
- £8.7 million reclaimed in overpaid enhanced housing benefits from landlords.
Despite this, the council's powers remain limited. The Supported Housing Act, passed two years ago to grant councils extra powers, has still not been implemented and may not be active until 2027. MP Bob Blackman, who championed the Act, expressed frustration at the delay, stating rogue landlords are "making money hand over fist."
The Scale of the Problem: 32,000 Tenants and Growing
The scale of exempt accommodation in Birmingham is vast and expanding. Since the Act was passed, another 700 properties have opened and 5,400 more tenants have moved in, many with no prior connection to the city.
The city now has 10,840 registered exempt properties housing more than 32,000 people. Hotspots include Aston, North Edgbaston, Stockland Green, Perry Barr, Ladywood, Hall Green, and Moseley. The market is dominated by five large providers, all deemed "non-compliant" by the Regulator of Social Housing.
Unlike standard HMOs, exempt properties do not require a licence, and support staff need no DBS check. The required support is vaguely defined as 'more than minimal', often interpreted as just an hour a week, even for tenants with complex needs.
The report cautions that while new regulations are needed, a poorly managed crackdown could have unintended consequences, such as placing huge pressure on other housing and support services if providers exit the market en masse.
The issue remains a critical challenge for Birmingham, balancing the need for supported housing with the urgent requirement to protect vulnerable residents and communities from exploitation and neglect.
