Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023

2 Local supported housing strategies

(1) A local housing authority in England must—

(a) carry out a review of the supported exempt accommodation in its district, and

(b) in the light of that review, publish a strategy, to be known as a “supported housing strategy”, for the provision of supported exempt accommodation in its district.

(2) A local housing authority—

(a) must comply with subsection (1) before such date as may be specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, and

(b) subsequently, must comply with that subsection before the end of each five-year period beginning with the day on which it published its most recent supported housing strategy.

(3) A supported housing strategy must, in particular, include—

(a) the local housing authority’s assessment of—

(i) the current availability of supported exempt accommodation in its district, and

(ii) the likely need for supported exempt accommodation in its district during the period of five years beginning with the date on which the strategy is published;

(b) such other matters as may be specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(4) The social services authority in respect of a district in England must give the local housing authority for that district (where that is a different authority) such assistance in connection with the carrying out of its duties under this section as the local housing authority may reasonably require.

(5) A local housing authority in England must have regard to its supported housing strategy in the exercise of its functions.

(6) A social services authority in England must, in the exercise of its social services functions—

(a) where it is also a local housing authority, have regard to its supported housing strategy, or

(b) in any other case, have regard to the supported housing strategy of each local housing authority in respect of whose district it is the social services authority.

(7) The Secretary of State may issue guidance—

(a) applicable to local housing authorities or social services authorities generally, or

(b) applicable to specified descriptions of local housing authorities or social services authorities,

in relation to the exercise of their functions under this section.

(8) A local housing authority or a social services authority must have regard to any guidance issued under subsection (7) that is applicable to it.

(9) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.