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A supported housing licence in Birmingham: who holds it and what to prepare

Updated 29 Oct 2026 · Sources

The short answer

Birmingham City Council expects licensing of supported exempt accommodation in 2027 or 2028, and would run it for homes in Birmingham. In the draft regulations, a licence covers one council area and every address the holder manages there. The holder is whoever is managing or in control of the homes. Once licensing starts, a home without a licence should expect to lose its Housing Benefit.

Birmingham City Council says licensing of supported exempt accommodation is expected in 2027 or 2028 (Birmingham City Council (opens in a new tab)). The government has confirmed that Housing Benefit will be tied to the licence. So once licensing starts, a home without a licence should expect to lose its Housing Benefit.

On 15 October 2026 the government published the draft licensing regulations (opens in a new tab) and asked for views until 10 December 2026 (consultation page (opens in a new tab)). They are proposed, not law yet. Birmingham City Council would run licensing for homes in Birmingham. See the draft licensing regulations in plain English.

Is there one licence for the whole council area?

A licence covers one council area (district) and every address the holder manages in it. It lists each address, the type of accommodation and the service manager. If you have homes in Birmingham and in a neighbouring council area, you need a licence in each. In the draft, you apply to the council for the area where the housing is.

Who holds the licence?

The holder is whoever is “managing or in control” of the accommodation. The government response (opens in a new tab) says “in many cases, the managing agent will be the appropriate person”. Sometimes a head landlord (the main landlord) and a managing agent could both hold it. Then they agree between them, and they can ask the council. The draft says the council must be satisfied the holder is “the most appropriate person” of all of them. Managing agents are already central to Birmingham’s quality scheme: 17 of the 23 award holders (opens in a new tab) are managing agents.

If the holder is an organisation, the draft says the organisation holds the licence and names one director (or partner) as its nominated individual: its single contact for the council. The directors involved in running the housing, and the nominated individual, must be fit and proper (suitable people to run supported housing).

Stedwise never tells you who must hold a licence. It records who controls what, and gives you the questions to put to the council.

What are the licence conditions?

  1. 1

    Standard of accommodation

    The standards that already exist apply: the Decent Homes Standard or HHSRS (the council’s check for hazards in a home), depending on the type of tenancy. The application is refused if the council is already taking enforcement action on a Category 1 hazard (the most serious kind). Otherwise the council can agree an improvement plan.

    Who evidences it: Housing side

  2. 2

    Use of accommodation

    The accommodation must be safe, accessible for the residents and well maintained. The council checks this with the support commissioners (the public bodies that pay for support).

    Who evidences it: Housing side

  3. 3

    Care, support and supervision

    Care that must be registered needs registration with CQC, the care regulator. Every other service must meet the National Supported Housing Standards, unless it is exempt. Commissioned support (paid for by a council or other public body) is exempt. The licence holder reports any concerns about it.

    Who evidences it: Support provider

  4. 4

    Needs assessment

    Each resident is assessed when they move in or within four weeks. A person with suitable skills does it, following the Standards.

    Who evidences it: Support provider or commissioner

  5. 5

    Service managers

    The licence holder confirms each service manager’s character, capacity, experience and skills. A criminal record does not automatically stop someone.

    Who evidences it: Licence holder

  6. Fit-and-proper test

    A check that the people in charge are suitable: integrity, good character, and the skills and experience to run supported housing. It includes a criminal record certificate (a DBS check) where required, and is in line with CQC and Ofsted. There is a stricter, enhanced test where residents are particularly vulnerable.

    Who evidences it: Each director

What should I prepare now?

  • A named service manager for every address, with evidence of their character, capacity, experience and skills.
  • A needs assessment for every resident, no later than four weeks after they move in.
  • In-date gas safety records, electrical reports and fire risk assessments. An expired one is something you must fix.
  • A board minute (a written record of the board’s decision) choosing the director who will be your nominated individual.
  • For each director and the nominated individual: proof of identity with a recent photo, two references and a full work history with any gaps explained. Where it applies, a criminal record certificate (an enhanced one where the housing includes care for vulnerable people). The draft asks for these for the fit-and-proper test.
  • Evidence for the National Supported Housing Standards, unless your support is commissioned (paid for by a council or other public body).
  • A clear record of who owns, leases, manages, supports and commissions each scheme.

What is the difference between a licence and a S.E.A.Q.A.S. award?

The licence is pass or fail on each condition. S.E.A.Q.A.S. is Birmingham’s separate quality award. It gives a percentage score, and leads to the preferred provider list. Much of the evidence is the same, but one does not give you the other.

What are the key dates?

  1. Feb–May 2025Consultation: the government asks for views and gets 581 responses.
  2. 11 February 2026MPs debate supported exempt accommodation in Birmingham in the House of Commons (Hansard (opens in a new tab), the official record of Parliament).
  3. 16 April 2026The government publishes its response to the consultation: 36 requirements (it calls them criteria) in six standards (government response (opens in a new tab)).
  4. 1 May 2026Law nowThe law now. It counts in both views, and it can stop a licence card being ready.Renters’ Rights Act rules for adverts start. An advert must state the rent and a property reference. Penalties are up to £7,000, then £40,000.
  5. 10 September 2026The minister confirms the consultation on the draft licensing regulations will come “later this year” (written answer 27109 (opens in a new tab)).
  6. 15 October 2026The government housing department (MHCLG) publishes the draft Supported Housing (Licensing) (England) Regulations 2027 and asks for views on them. This is called a consultation (consultation page (opens in a new tab)).
  7. 23 October 2026The Supported Housing Advisory Panel publishes its first advice to ministers: 31 recommendations on residents’ voice, licensing and the supply of supported housing (initial advice (opens in a new tab)). It is advice, not law.
  8. 10 December 2026Government has decidedThe government says it "will" do this. It counts in the "When licensing starts" view.The consultation on the draft licensing regulations closes at 11:59pm. Anyone can respond before then (consultation page (opens in a new tab)).
  9. Early 2027Government has decidedThe government says it "will" do this. It counts in the "When licensing starts" view.The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) updates its Housing Benefit guidance for supported housing claims to match the Act (written answer 15943 (opens in a new tab)).
  10. 31 March 2027ProposedAn idea in a consultation or a draft. We show it, but it never changes your score.Councils plan to publish their first supported housing strategies (local plans for supported housing). The regulations (the detailed law) that set this deadline are not made yet.
  11. 2027 or 2028Our best guessOur own guess, based on similar rules we name. It is not law. It only adds tasks that are worth doing anyway.Licensing is expected to start for all supported exempt accommodation in England. Each council will run it in its own area, and Housing Benefit will be linked to the licence. The government has confirmed licensing but has not set a date. The minister said “next year” on 25 June 2026 (written answer 8570 (opens in a new tab)). Birmingham says 2027 or 2028. The draft regulations (opens in a new tab) would come into force on a date in 2027 that is not filled in yet. Councils would get at least six months to prepare, and running without a licence would become an offence some months after that.

Sources

This guide is not legal advice

It sums up what the government and councils had published on the date above. The licensing regulations (the detailed law) are not made yet. On 15 October 2026 the government published them as a draft, to ask for views. The final text may change. Check the sources before you rely on a detail.