Blackpool’s supported housing quality standards toolkit
Updated 25 Sept 2026 · Sources
The short answer
Blackpool Council publishes a quality standards self-assessment toolkit for supported housing: about 100 items in three quality areas, each marked legal minimum, minimum standard or best practice. Providers and landlords use it to check themselves against what the council expects. It is a local tool, separate from national licensing.
Blackpool Council publishes a quality standards self-assessment toolkit (opens in a new tab) for supported housing. Providers use it to check themselves. The council describes it as a toolkit “for accommodation providers and landlords, to reflect the standards we expect providers of supported housing in Blackpool to attain” (supported housing page (opens in a new tab)).
In 2020/21 the council took part in a supported housing pilot, funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The council says this led to changes in how it manages supported housing, and the toolkit is one of them. Blackpool was later given £1,319,000 under the Supported Housing Improvement Programme (opens in a new tab).
What are the three levels?
Every item in the toolkit (the council calls them elements) is marked with one of three levels:
- Legal minimum: what the law already requires. For example: the home is fit for people to live in, gas safety, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and the duties for managing an HMO (a house in multiple occupation, shared by several households).
- Minimum standard: what the council expects, such as a fire risk assessment, clear repair procedures, consistent support, and support plans with regular reviews.
- Best practice: what the council encourages every provider to aim for. For example: design that takes account of residents’ mental health (psychologically informed design), and workshops that help residents keep their tenancy.
Providers use the toolkit to check themselves. The page describes no score or award. It lists 102 rows, which is 101 different items. It skips item 1.1.1. It lists 1.1.10 twice (once at each of two levels). It uses the number 3.3.3 for two different items.
What does it cover, and how does it match the National Standards?
The toolkit has three quality areas: accommodation, tenant support, and organisation and staff. The table shows where each of its ten standards covers the same ground as the National Supported Housing Standards. We made this table; the council did not. Most of standard 1.2 (regulations and standards) is property law, and the National Standards have nothing like it.
| Blackpool standard | Items | National Standards it matches (our table) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 (quality area 1, accommodation) | Items 10 | National Standards it matches Environment; Local need; Person-centred support; Statement of purpose; Staff and safeguarding |
| 1.2 Regulations and standards | Items 16 | National Standards it matches None: property, fire, planning and energy law |
| 1.3 Housing facilities | Items 9 | National Standards it matches Environment; Empowerment |
| 1.4 Housing safety and building condition | Items 17 | National Standards it matches Environment; Empowerment |
| 2.1 Health and wellbeing | Items 4 | National Standards it matches Person-centred support; Environment |
| 2.2 Support and engagement | Items 11 | National Standards it matches Person-centred support; Empowerment; Staff and safeguarding; Local need; Statement of purpose |
| 2.3 Tenancy | Items 13 | National Standards it matches Empowerment; Environment; Person-centred support; Staff and safeguarding (pre-eviction) |
| 3.1 Engagement and routine | Items 10 | National Standards it matches Empowerment; Environment; Person-centred support; Staff and safeguarding |
| 3.2 Recruitment and training | Items 5 | National Standards it matches Staff and safeguarding; Person-centred support |
| 3.3 Procedures and policies | Items 6 | National Standards it matches Staff and safeguarding; Environment; Person-centred support |
What if I open a new scheme in Blackpool?
The council also runs a process for new schemes in steps (phases) (opens in a new tab), from Phase 0 (an enquiry form) to Phase 6. It includes:
- a check that there is local need for the group of people the scheme is for
- planning checks
- property visits from housing enforcement and, where required, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, “before any tenants are placed”
Tenants move in, and Housing Benefit claims are made, only once every phase is complete.
The council’s supported housing page also mentions a charter of rights for tenants. We could not find the charter itself on the council website.
In Stedwise
If you have an address in Blackpool, you can score yourself against the toolkit as its own rule set, labelled Council ruleA council's own scheme. It only applies in that council's area.. It is never mixed with the National Standards. Every requirement uses the council’s own words, copied from the toolkit page. The weights are ours: best practice counts half. Stedwise is independent, and Blackpool Council does not endorse it.
Sources
- Blackpool Council: Supported housing - Quality standards toolkit (opens in a new tab)
- Blackpool Council: Supported housing (opens in a new tab)
- Blackpool Council: Supported housing new phased scheme opening process (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Supported Housing Improvement Programme, funding awarded to local authorities (opens in a new tab)
This guide is not legal advice