Glossary
Specified accommodation
In one sentence
The four types of supported housing where rent is paid through Housing Benefit, even for people on Universal Credit.
The four categories are exempt accommodation, managed properties, domestic abuse refuges and local authority hostels. They were set out in 2014 regulations so supported housing could stay on Housing Benefit when Universal Credit arrived.
Housing Benefit paid for specified accommodation is left out of the benefit cap calculation.
Related terms
Exempt accommodationSupported housing where a not-for-profit landlord or county council, or someone acting for it, provides more than minimal care, support or supervision.Managed propertyCategory 2 specified accommodation: not-for-profit supported housing where the resident was admitted to meet a support need, and support can come from anyone.RefugeNon-permanent accommodation for people who have left home because of domestic abuse. Category 3 specified accommodation.Local authority hostelCategory 4 specified accommodation: a non-self-contained hostel run by a council where residents receive care, support or supervision.
Where it comes up
- What is exempt accommodation?Exempt accommodation is supported housing where the landlord is a housing association, registered charity, voluntary organisation or non-metropolitan county council, and that landlord, or someone acting for it, gives the resident more than minimal care, support or supervision. Housing Benefit pays the rent, and the usual local rent caps do not apply.
- Types of supported housing in EnglandSupported housing is any housing that comes with support, care or supervision to help people live as independently as they can. The main models are hostels, shared supported houses, self-contained supported flats, Housing First, refuges, young people's schemes, supported lodgings, supported living and housing for older people. They differ in who they serve, how long people stay and who pays for the support.
- Refuges and domestic abuse safe accommodationRefuges are non-permanent accommodation with specialist support for people who have left home because of domestic abuse. Under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, upper-tier councils in England must assess the need for support in safe accommodation, publish a strategy and commission support to meet it. For Housing Benefit, refuges are category 3 specified accommodation, which has no separate support test.