Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to introduce regulatory proposals for bodies which manage shared accommodation in which vulnerable people are housed.

The Government understands the importance of protecting the most vulnerable in our society.

Housing is regulated differently dependent on the form of support provided. Social housing provided by Housing Associations is regulated by the Homes and Communities Agency, registered Care Homes are inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Houses of Multiple Occupancy in the private rental sector are, where appropriate, licensed by the local authority, and we are proposing changes to widen mandatory licensing of large Houses of Multiple Occupancies.

As part of our consultation on the future funding of supported housing, the Government is considering how further to improve oversight and assurance for vulnerable adults living in supported housing. As part of the Care and Quality Commission’s next phase of regulation consultation, the Care and Quality Commission is looking to make changes to its regulation of providers to use a more targeted, responsive and collaborative approach to meet the emerging new care models.