The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, explained
Updated 3 Nov 2026 · Sources
The short answer
The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 became law on 29 June 2023. It lets the government license supported exempt accommodation in England, set National Supported Housing Standards and tie Housing Benefit to the licence. It also makes every council review the supported exempt accommodation in its area and publish a strategy. Most of it works through regulations, which are still being made.
The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 (opens in a new tab) started as a private member’s bill, after reports of poor housing and poor support in some exempt accommodation, especially in Birmingham. It received Royal Assent on 29 June 2023. People in the sector often call it SHROA.
What this means for you: the Act itself does not yet ask anything of providers. It gives the government powers. The licence, the standards and the Housing Benefit link only apply once regulations are made under it. The first set was published as a draft on 15 October 2026.
When did the Act come into force?
Section 14 says the Act comes into force two months after it was passed, so at the end of August 2023. It extends to England and Wales, but the duties and powers that do the work are about supported exempt accommodation in England.
What does each section of the Act do?
| Section | What it does |
|---|---|
| 1 | What it does The government must set up an expert advisory panel on supported exempt accommodation, within a year of the Act passing. |
| 2 | What it does Each council in England must review the supported exempt accommodation in its area and publish a supported housing strategy, then do it again at least every five years. |
| 3 | What it does The government may publish National Supported Housing Standards for England: minimum standards for the homes and for the care, support or supervision. |
| 4 and 5 | What it does The government may make licensing regulations. Where they apply, whoever manages or controls the housing must get a licence from the council. The regulations may remove or restrict Housing Benefit. |
| 6 and 7 | What it does The government must consult before making the regulations. Councils must have regard to the National Standards and to government guidance when they license. |
| 8 | What it does Within three years of the first licensing regulations, the government must review how they have worked and consider planning rules for this kind of housing. |
| 9 | What it does Changes the homelessness rules for people who leave supported exempt accommodation that does not meet the National Standards. |
| 10 and 11 | What it does Lets councils share information, including Housing Benefit and council tax records, for this work. |
| 12 to 14 | What it does What “supported exempt accommodation” means, other definitions, and when the Act starts. |
Read the full text on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab).
What must councils do under the Act?
Section 2 says each council must “carry out a review of the supported exempt accommodation in its district” and publish a supported housing strategy, by a date set in regulations, then again within each five-year period. The government’s guidance of 10 February 2026 (opens in a new tab) says “the plan is for this date to be the 31 March 2027”. That date is ProposedAn idea in a consultation or a draft. We show it, but it never changes your score. until the regulations set it.
A council’s strategy says how much supported housing the area needs, and of what kind. It is worth reading yours: it shows what your council wants from providers.
How does the Act lead to licensing?
Section 4 lets the government require that whoever controls or manages supported exempt accommodation “must obtain and comply with a licence granted by the local housing authority”. The government confirmed it will use this power in its response of 16 April 2026 (opens in a new tab), and published draft licensing regulations (opens in a new tab) on 15 October 2026, open for views until 10 December 2026. Licensing is expected in 2027 or 2028.
Read the draft licensing regulations in plain English and what is confirmed about licensing.
What does the Act mean for Housing Benefit?
Section 5 lets the licensing regulations provide for “removing or restricting an entitlement to housing benefit”. The government has confirmed it will tie Housing Benefit to the licence. So once licensing starts, a home without a licence should expect to lose its Housing Benefit.
What are the National Supported Housing Standards?
Section 3 lets the government publish national standards for the homes and for the care, support or supervision. The government published them on 16 April 2026: 36 requirements in six standards. The draft regulations make meeting them a licence condition. See the National Supported Housing Standards explained.
What should providers and managing agents do now?
- Find out who manages or controls each home, because that decides who applies for each licence.
- Check your support records against the National Standards: needs assessments, support plans and session notes.
- Read your council’s supported housing strategy when it is published.
- Respond to the consultation on the draft regulations by 10 December 2026 if you want a say.
Sources
- Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, as enacted (opens in a new tab)
- Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023: contents (opens in a new tab)
- MHCLG: Local supported housing strategies, guidance (10 February 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- MHCLG: Supported housing regulation, government response (16 April 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- MHCLG: Supported housing licensing regime, consultation on draft regulations (15 October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
This guide is not legal advice