Gaps in data and regulation are - in some areas - allowing increasing numbers of landlords to profit by providing costly, sub-standard housing with little or no support, supervision or care, according to a new National Audit Office report.

Supported housing is accommodation provided alongside support, supervision or care to help people with specific needs to live as independently as possible in the community. This includes, for example, those who are elderly; living with disabilities; or have experienced homelessness or substance misuse.

There are three categories of supported housing; short-term (e.g. hostels); specialised (e.g. long-term housing for people needing a high level of care), and sheltered housing (e.g. long-term housing for older people with minimal or extra care needs).

Current gaps in regulation means some supported housing providers are receiving less scrutiny. And there is no direct regulation of the quality of support offered.

One local authority reported to the Committee for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that in the 345 supported housing units it inspected between April 2019 and January 2022, it found 323 hazards classed as a serious and immediate risk to a person’s health and safety.

The report added that a lack of national, central government data on exempt accommodation makes it difficult to assess the scale of the problem.