A
B
C
Care, support or supervision
The help a resident must receive for accommodation to count as exempt accommodation. It is not defined in the regulations.
CAS-3
Community Accommodation Service Tier 3: up to 84 nights of temporary accommodation for prison leavers at risk of homelessness.
Commissioning
When a council or public body contracts a provider to deliver support or care, and pays for it.
Community interest company (CIC)
A limited company for social enterprises, with an asset lock. Many run supported housing as voluntary organisations.
E
Eligible rent
The amount Housing Benefit is based on: core rent plus eligible service charges.
Eligible service charges
Charges for services connected with providing adequate accommodation that Housing Benefit can cover.
Emergency accommodation
A place to stay at short notice, often arranged by a council under its interim homelessness duty.
Exempt accommodation
Supported housing where a not-for-profit landlord or county council, or someone acting for it, provides more than minimal care, support or supervision.
F
H
I
L
Lease-based provider
A registered provider that leases most of its supported housing from investors, often on long, inflation-linked leases.
Licence (occupation)
Permission to occupy a room or space without a tenancy, common in hostels and shared supported housing.
Licensing (supported housing)
The council-run licensing regime for supported exempt accommodation planned under the 2023 Act, expected to start in 2027.
Local authority hostel
Category 4 specified accommodation: a non-self-contained hostel run by a council where residents receive care, support or supervision.
Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
The flat-rate limit on help with rent for private tenants, set for each area and property size. It does not apply to exempt accommodation.
M
Managed property
Category 2 specified accommodation: not-for-profit supported housing where the resident was admitted to meet a support need, and support can come from anyone.
More than minimal
The threshold, set by case law, that care, support or supervision must pass for exempt accommodation.
Move-on
The planned move from supported housing into more settled accommodation.
N
National supported housing standards
Standards for the support provided in supported exempt accommodation, set under the 2023 Act and enforced through licensing.
Needs assessment
An assessment of a resident's needs, risks and goals, which licensing will require on arrival or within four weeks.
Non-commissioned supported housing
Supported housing where no council or public body contracts the provider to deliver support.
O
Ofsted-registered supported accommodation
Supported accommodation for looked-after 16 and 17 year olds and care leavers, which must be registered with Ofsted since 28 October 2023.
On its behalf
The requirement that support in exempt accommodation comes from the landlord or from someone acting for the landlord.
R
Refuge
Non-permanent accommodation for people who have left home because of domestic abuse. Category 3 specified accommodation.
Registered provider of social housing
A landlord registered with the Regulator of Social Housing, such as a housing association or council.
Rent officer
An official at the Valuation Office Agency who assesses rents for Housing Benefit, including exempt rents from non-registered landlords.
S
Sanctuary scheme
Security measures and support that let a survivor of domestic abuse stay safely in their own home.
Shared accommodation rate
The lower Local Housing Allowance rate for most single private tenants under 35.
Specified accommodation
The four types of supported housing where rent is paid through Housing Benefit, even for people on Universal Credit.
Subsidy loss
Housing Benefit a council pays that the DWP does not reimburse, such as exempt rent above a rent officer's figure.
Suitable alternative accommodation
The comparison a council must use before cutting an exempt accommodation rent as unreasonably high.
Support plan
A written plan, agreed with the resident, setting out their goals, the support they will get and when it will be reviewed.
Supported exempt accommodation (SEA)
The term the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 uses for supported housing that can be paid for by Housing Benefit above Local Housing Allowance levels.
Supported housing strategy
The strategy every local housing authority in England must publish after reviewing supported exempt accommodation in its area.
Supported living
Long-term housing where an adult holds their own tenancy and receives care from a separate, CQC-registered provider.