# SEA Hub > SEA Hub is a plain-English resource hub on supported exempt accommodation (SEA) and supported housing in England, published by SEA Audit. It covers exempt and specified accommodation, Housing Benefit rent and service charges, supported living, transitional, emergency and care leaver accommodation, licensing under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, and best practice. Each guide starts with a quick answer and a short version of no more than five points, and lists its sources. Guidance covers England and is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed October 2026. ## Foundations - [What is exempt accommodation?](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/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. - [The four categories of specified accommodation](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/specified-accommodation-categories/): Specified accommodation is the group of supported housing types where rent is paid through Housing Benefit, even for people on Universal Credit. - [Types of supported housing in England](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/types-of-supported-housing/): Supported housing is any housing that comes with support, care or supervision to help people live as independently as they can. ## Types of accommodation - [Transitional housing and move-on](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/transitional-housing-and-move-on/): Transitional housing is time-limited supported accommodation that helps someone get from crisis to a settled home. - [Emergency accommodation, temporary accommodation and supported housing](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/emergency-accommodation/): Emergency accommodation is a place to stay at short notice, often arranged by a council under its interim duty while it looks into a homeless application. - [Supported accommodation for care leavers and 16 to 17 year olds](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/care-leavers-supported-accommodation/): Since 28 October 2023, supported accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 or 17 in England must be registered with Ofsted. - [Supported living explained](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/supported-living/): Supported living is long-term housing for adults, often with learning disabilities, autism or mental health needs, where the person holds their own tenancy and gets care from a separate provider. - [Refuges and domestic abuse safe accommodation](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation/): Refuges are non-permanent accommodation with specialist support for people who have left home because of domestic abuse. - [Prison leavers, CAS-3 and supported housing](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/prison-leavers-cas3-and-supported-housing/): People leaving prison who would otherwise be homeless can be housed through the Community Accommodation Service. ## Rent and Housing Benefit - [Rent, service charges and Housing Benefit in supported housing](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/housing-benefit-rent-and-service-charges/): Housing Benefit in supported housing covers the core rent plus eligible service charges, such as cleaning and lighting communal areas, furniture and intensive housing management. ## Regulation - [Licensing and the national supported housing standards](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/supported-housing-regulatory-oversight-act/): The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 lets the government set national supported housing standards and create a council-run licensing regime for supported exempt accommodation in England. - [The Renters' Rights Act and supported accommodation](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/renters-rights-act-supported-accommodation/): Since 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 has turned private assured shorthold tenancies into periodic assured tenancies and removed section 21. ## Best practice - [Needs assessments, support plans and support records](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/support-planning-and-needs-assessments/): Every resident should have a needs assessment when they move in or within four weeks, a support plan built with them from that assessment, and records showing the support was delivered. - [Property standards and safety in supported housing](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/property-standards-and-safety/): There are no special property standards for supported housing. - [A guide for managing agents and proptech teams in supported housing](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/managing-agents-and-proptech-in-supported-housing/): In supported housing the landlord, support provider and managing agent carry different duties, and the paperwork has to say who does what. - [How to prepare for a supported housing audit](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/how-to-prepare-for-a-supported-housing-audit/): Start by mapping every scheme and its structure, then sample resident files and check each has an assessment within four weeks, a current support plan and records that match it. ## Grey areas - [Grey areas in exempt and supported accommodation](https://hub.seaaudit.com/guides/grey-areas-in-exempt-accommodation/): Most disputes in exempt accommodation come from questions the regulations never fully answer. ## Tools and reference - [Regulation tracker](https://hub.seaaudit.com/regulation-tracker/): Key dates for supported exempt accommodation from 1996 to licensing expected in 2027. - [Glossary](https://hub.seaaudit.com/glossary/): 42 supported housing terms defined in one sentence each. - [FAQ](https://hub.seaaudit.com/faq/): Short answers to common questions on licensing, Housing Benefit and running a service. - [Audit readiness check](https://hub.seaaudit.com/tools/audit-readiness/): A 24-question self-assessment against what councils and licensing look for. - [Exempt accommodation checker](https://hub.seaaudit.com/tools/exempt-accommodation-checker/): Identifies the likely specified accommodation category for a scheme. - [Resources](https://hub.seaaudit.com/resources/): Legislation, official guidance and research with notes on each. ## Optional - [Full text of every guide](https://hub.seaaudit.com/llms-full.txt): All guides as plain markdown in one file. - [About and editorial standards](https://hub.seaaudit.com/about/): Who publishes the hub and how guides are written and checked. - [SEA Audit](https://seaaudit.com): Independent audits of supported exempt accommodation.