Calls to stop substandard homes with regulations on ‘exempt’ accommodation

Councillor Robert Alden, leader of Birmingham’s Conservative group, asked West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to write to the government to ask for exempt housing to be brought under the planning system.

He said this would equip local authorities with the ability to restrict the growth of such accommodation in Birmingham.

Mr Parker said he would be happy to work with councillors and help rid the region of poor quality homes.

Exempt accommodation is a non-commissioned and unregulated type of supported housing, whereby landlords are paid rent directly by the Department for Work and Pensions in exchange for providing ‘support’ for tenants.

These tenants often include those with no other housing options such as prison leavers, rough sleepers and refugees.

Concerns have previously raised in Birmingham about some of the thousands of properties registered as exempt, which have tended to be concentrated in poorer parts of the city.

At a WMCA overview and scrutiny committee Q&A with the Mayor, Councillor Alden said: “You talked a bit about substandard accommodation in the region.

“One of the biggest issues in the region is the growth of exempt accommodation.

“As Mayor, would you be prepared to write to the Government asking them to bring exempt accommodation into the planning system?

“It would need planning going forward and councils have the ability to control the growth of it.”

Mr Parker said: “I certainly would. I know what a blight that accommodation is on our communities.

“Indeed, my programme around delivering social housing is aiming to help as many of those families living in that type of accommodation and other types of temporary accommodation to relieve them of often the high rents and poor quality accommodation they’ve got and move them into social housing.

“I’m very happy to work with you and other councillors in Birmingham to that effect.”