Glossary
Licence (occupation)
In one sentence
Permission to occupy a room or space without a tenancy, common in hostels and shared supported housing.
The label does not decide it. If the resident has exclusive possession, the agreement is likely a tenancy. Licences are outside the Renters' Rights Act reforms.
Related terms
Where it comes up
- Licensing and the national supported housing standardsThe Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 lets the government set national supported housing standards and create a council-run licensing regime for supported exempt accommodation in England. The April 2026 response confirmed licence holders must meet the standards, pass a wider fit and proper test and assess each resident's needs within four weeks. Licensing is expected in 2027.
- Property standards and safety in supported housingThere are no special property standards for supported housing. The ordinary rules apply in full: the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, HMO licensing, fire safety law, gas and electrical checks, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and, for registered providers, Awaab's Law and the Decent Homes Standard. The 2026 response added no new accommodation standards.
- Grey areas in exempt and supported accommodationMost disputes in exempt accommodation come from questions the regulations never fully answer. How much support is more than minimal, when a support provider acts for the landlord, whether a CIC is a voluntary organisation, and how HMO, planning and tenancy law apply. Decisions turn on facts, so the safest position is a structure that matches what happens day to day.