FOI request (FOIR-719439633)

Exempt accommodation

Requested Mon 02 June 2025
Responded Wed 25 June 2025

I am seeking information relating to accommodation that has been classed as ‘exempt’. I am seeking the housing benefit paid for such accommodation, broken down to include housing benefit and service charges as outlined below.

'Exempt accommodation' is a term used in Housing Benefit and Universal Credit to describe supported accommodation where the rules that normally limit the amount of rent covered by a benefit award do not apply.

The usual meaning of 'exempt accommodation' is where the accommodation is provided by a landlord in the social or voluntary sector and the benefit claimant is provided with care, support, or supervision by the landlord or by someone acting on the landlord’s behalf.

A claimant occupying exempt accommodation does not have their housing benefit restricted to the local housing allowance.

Please can you disclose the following:

1. Details of the lowest awarded eligible core rent.

2. Details of the highest awarded eligible core rent.

3. Details of the lowest awarded gross eligible rent (that is, inclusive of the core rent and the eligible service charges).

4. Please confirm the names of exempt accommodation providers in your area. Please name the providers/landlords who currently hold exempt accommodation status in respect of any of their residents.

5. Please confirm the lowest and highest paid for temporary/emergency accommodation on a nightly rate basis.

6. Please confirm the lowest and highest amount paid to landlords and/or suppliers for temporary/emergency accommodation on a lease basis broken down by property type.

7. Please can you provide the Head of Temporary/Emergency accommodation (or equivalent position) contact details, including direct e-mail and phone number.

---

Response

1. Details of the lowest awarded eligible core rent.

£72.63 per week (Sanctuary)

2. Details of the highest awarded eligible core rent.

£143.74 per week (Nacro Bass)

3. Details of the lowest awarded gross eligible rent (that is, inclusive of the core rent and the eligible service charges).

£124.10 (Emmaus)

4. Please confirm the names of exempt accommodation providers in your area. Please name the providers/landlords who currently hold exempt accommodation status in respect of any of their residents.

· Aspens Ltd

· Brighton Housing Trust

· Emmaus

· Mencap

· Nacro Bass

· Salvation Army Housing Association

· Sanctuary Housing Association

· Southdown Housing Association

· Sussex Central YMCA

· Transom Trust

5. Please confirm the lowest and highest paid for temporary/emergency accommodation on a nightly rate basis.

Lowest £11.14 daily

Highest £96.14 daily

6. Please confirm the lowest and highest amount paid to landlords and/or suppliers for temporary/emergency accommodation on a lease basis broken down by property type.

1 bed

£83.08 per week - Lowest Paid

£83.08 per week - Highest Paid

2 bed

£113.63 per week - Lowest Paid

£113.63 per week - Highest Paid

3 bed

£150.58 per week - Lowest Paid

£150.58 per week - Highest Paid

4 bed

£194.72 per week - Lowest Paid

£194.72 per week - Highest Paid

5 bed

£207.69 per week - Lowest Paid

£207.69 per week - Highest Paid

7. Please can you provide the Head of Temporary/Emergency accommodation (or equivalent position) contact details, including direct e-mail and phone number.

Chris Hancock, Head of Housing, Email: chris.hancock@hastings.gov.uk Tel: 01424 451066