Supported accommodation

In the context of Housing Benefit, supported accommodation is referred to as “specified accommodation.” This designation applies to housing where tenants receive additional care, support, or supervision. 

Two main categories

Category 1: Exempt accommodation

  • Provided by a not-for-profit landlord
  • The landlord (or someone acting on their behalf) delivers care, support, or supervision
  • Rent levels may exceed standard limits due to the nature of the support provided

Category 2: Managed properties

  • Also provided by a not-for-profit landlord
  • Tenants are admitted specifically to receive care, support, or supervision from a third-party organisation

What is care, support or supervision

Care
  • Direct assistance with tasks the claimant is unable to perform themselves.
  • The landlord or someone acting on their behalf must be physically present in the building and with the claimant while providing care.
Support
  • Help that enables the claimant to live more independently by offering skills, tools, and opportunities for a fulfilling life.
  • Support can be provided by the landlord or someone acting on their behalf without the physical presence of a care or support worker.
Supervision
  • Oversight or management of the claimant’s wellbeing, including direction, control, or general monitoring.
  • The landlord or someone acting on their behalf must be physically present in the building while supervision to take place.

Types of care, support, or supervision

Supported accommodation may involve a wide range of services tailored to meet individual needs. These can include:

  • 24-hour sleep-in support
  • Alcohol and drug counselling
  • Benefits advice
  • Budgeting advice and bill paying
  • Debt counselling
  • Emergency alarms
  • Emotional support
  • Floating support for general needs
  • Help and encouragement finding new accommodation
  • Help with language and cultural integration
  • Intensive high-level support
  • Life skills training

Rent charges considered for Category 1 exempt accommodation

Core rent

Core rent refers to the essential charges associated with providing and maintaining a property. These costs typically include:

  • Lease payments for the property
  • Accountancy fees related to property management
  • Council Tax (where applicable)
  • Licensing fees
  • Sinking fund contributions (used for long-term repairs or replacements)

Core rent charges that are reasonable and appropriately priced may be covered by Housing Benefit.

Service charges

Under Housing Benefit Regulations, services refer to:

“Services performed or facilities (including the use of furniture) provided for, or rights made available to, the occupier of a dwelling.”

These services are directly related to the operation and upkeep of the property, and may include:

  • Heating
  • Gardening
  • Handy person tasks
  • Cleaning
  • Insurance
  • Use of furniture or communal facilities

Charges for these services may be covered by Housing Benefit, provided they are reasonably priced.

Intensive/enhanced housing management

These are additional charges that arise from managing accommodation schemes designed for residents with support needs. They reflect the extra responsibilities and higher frequency of tasks required in supported housing compared to general needs housing.

What these charges can include:

Routine landlord tasks performed more frequently or with added complexity, such as:

  • Re-letting vacant units
  • Coordinating repairs
  • Encouraging tenants to maintain rent payments
  • Carrying out minor maintenance tasks that tenants would normally handle themselves

Supported accommodation often involves:

  • More frequent landlord visits
  • Increased repairs and maintenance
  • Extra help with tenancy sustainment

Charges for intensive or enhanced housing management may be covered by Housing Benefit, provided they are reasonable and appropriately justified.

Category B: Managed Properties

This category applies to accommodation provided by a not-for-profit landlord, where tenants are admitted specifically to receive care, support, or supervision delivered by a third-party organisation.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The individual’s need for care, support, or supervision must be clearly identified as part of the admission process.
  • This need must be assessed by someone the local authority recognises as suitably qualified to make such determinations.
  • The support must be intrinsically linked to the accommodation.  Services that are not tied to the home, such as general “floating” support, do not meet the criteria.

Meaning of ‘not for profit’ landlord

A not-for-profit landlord is an independent organisation whose primary purpose is not to generate profit for directors, members, or shareholders. Instead, these organisations focus on providing housing and support services for public benefit.

Examples include:

  • Registered social landlords
  • Housing associations
  • Registered charities involved in housing provision
  • Community interest companies
  • Company limited by guarantee

Pension age customers: who helps pay the rent?

All pension age claimants must claim Housing Benefit

Working age customers: who pays the rent?

Working-age individuals are generally required to claim Universal Credit to cover their housing costs. However, they may still be eligible for Housing Benefit if all of the following conditions are met:

  1. The landlord is a not-for-profit organisation, such as a registered charity or housing association.
  2. The landlord—or someone acting on their behalf—is providing care, support, or supervision to the tenant.
  3. The tenant has a demonstrated need for the care, support, or supervision being provided.


Only when all three criteria are satisfied can a working-age claimant receive Housing Benefit instead of Universal Credit for their rent.

How to make an online Housing Benefit claim

Claim Housing Benefit online

Information and evidence needed

The Benefits Team will require the following information:

From the claimant

  1. Online claim form
  2. Signed rental agreement which must include:
    • Your tenant’s full name
    • Room number, address and postcode
    • Rental agreement
  3. Evidence of income, except for state benefits
  4. Evidence of capital unless the claimant is receiving one of the following:
    • Universal Credit (UC)
    • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
    • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
    • Pension Credit (PC)

From the landlord

To support a Housing Benefit claim for supported accommodation, the landlord must provide the following documentation:

  1. Completed supported accommodation form
  2. Governing Documents:
  • Articles of Association
  • Constitution
  • Rules outlining the organisation’s activities
  1. Head Lease Agreement (if applicable)
  2. Signed Rental Agreement
  3. Detailed Breakdown of Rent and Service Charges, showing the cost of each item included
  4. Claimant’s Pre-Occupation care, support or supervision assessment

Rent charges considered for Category 1 exempt accommodation

Core rent

These are the core charges that apply to providing a property.  For example, lease costs, accountancy, Council Tax, licensing, sinking fund.  Reasonably priced core rent charges will be eligible for Housing Benefit.

Service charges

The Housing Benefit Regulations define services as: ‘services performed or facilities (including the use of furniture) provided for, or rights made available to, the occupier of a dwelling.  These relate to the running the property, for example, heating, gardening, handy person, cleaning, insurance etc.  Reasonably priced service charges will be eligible for Housing Benefit.

Intensive/Enhanced Housing Management

These are charges that arise because of managing the scheme for residents with support needs.

These can include:

  • Tasks that any landlord would have to perform, but in supported accommodation these tasks are more frequent or more complicated, for example re-letting void units, arranging repairs, urging tenants to keep their rent up to date
  • Tasks that fall within the general meaning of “housing management” (as distinct from care, support or supervision) but which are not normally required in general needs accommodation, for example small maintenance tasks that are normally done by tenants in general needs accommodation

We recognise supported accommodation schemes will incur more housing management expenses compared to general needs accommodation. This may be because of landlord visits, repairs, maintenance and help maintaining the tenancy.

‘Reasonable’ housing management costs will be eligible for housing benefit.

Working out the eligible rent used to calculate Housing Benefit

How Housing Benefit is calculated for Category 1 exempt accommodation

For tenants living in Category 1 exempt accommodation, the maximum Housing Benefit award is determined by applying a series of deductions and restrictions to ensure costs are reasonable and eligible.

  • Ineligible charges are deducted, such as:
    • Food
    • Heating
    • Medication
    • Leisure activities
  • Charges unrelated to adequate accommodation are excluded.
  • Charges not required as a condition of occupation are removed.
  • Service costs deemed excessive may be restricted.
  • Total rent may be capped if it is considered unreasonably high.

These measures ensure Housing Benefit only covers necessary and reasonable housing-related costs.

Category 2 managed accommodation

The maximum Housing Benefit award is restricted to the relevant Local Housing Allowance rate. 

More information about supported housing claims and Housing Benefit.

Last updated on 17/10/2025