Crisis has reported that Freedom of Information data obtained by it shows that 153,701 households in Great Britain were housed in exempt accommodation as of May 2021. This represents a 62 per cent increase from 2016 to 2021.

As Crisis explains, ‘exempt accommodation’ is intended for people with support needs, including those who have been homeless, recently left prison, fled domestic violence or are dealing with addiction issues. It is supposed to come with additional support, which makes it ‘exempt’ from caps on Local Housing Allowance to cover the costs.

This allows providers to charge higher rents, which are covered entirely by the Department of Work and Pensions through Housing Benefit. Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis has said that the exempt accommodation sector is dangerously under-regulated.

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