Supported housing panel puts 31 recommendations to ministers as licensing consultation runs

The Supported Housing Advisory Panel has put 31 recommendations to ministers on residents' voice, licensing and supply in its first advice, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 23 October.

The panel gives its advice under section 1(1) of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, and the document applies to England. Its chair, Sir David Pearson, described it as the panel's first published advice to ministers, local government and the sector.

The advice arrived a week after MHCLG opened an eight-week consultation, on 15 October 2026, on draft regulations for a supported housing licensing regime. The panel's own document says it estimates licensing implementation will take place during 2027/28.

Florence Eshalomi MP, Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith, said: "Their advice will be invaluable as we implement the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 and improve outcomes for residents living in supported housing."

The recommendations

Among the 31 recommendations, the first calls for a national data and information framework so that there is sufficient ongoing evidence to monitor the Act's implementation and the quality, performance and supply of supported housing.

The remaining recommendations fall under the three headings MHCLG set out alongside the advice: enhancing the residents' voice, licensing, and the supply of supported housing.

The licensing timetable

According to MHCLG's consultation document, licensing authorities will set their own fee levels and the government is not mandating a set fee. Councils will have six months to set up licensing schemes once designated.

The draft regulations follow a 12-week consultation on supported housing regulation that ran from 20 February to 15 May 2025 and drew 581 responses, according to the government's published response.

Supply

The panel cites the Supported Housing Review 2023, published by MHCLG and the Department for Work and Pensions, which estimated 535,400 units of supported housing in England.

The panel said it is taking part in the Treasury review of homelessness, which includes supported housing. A ministerial roundtable with Birmingham City Council, government departments, regulators and MPs was held in July 2026.

The panel

The Act received Royal Assent on 29 June 2023. Section 1 requires the Secretary of State to appoint a panel to provide information and advice about or in connection with supported exempt accommodation, although the panel's advice says its remit has been widened to include all supported housing.

MHCLG formally established the panel on 12 February 2026. The chair has been appointed for an 18-month term and panel members for five years. Under its terms of reference the panel meets formally every quarter, with MHCLG officials attending as required, and may decide to publish its advice on GOV.UK.

Eshalomi said: "I welcome the publication of the Supported Housing Advisory Panel's first advice to government and would like to thank Sir David Pearson and the panel members for their hard work and thoughtful contributions."

MHCLG's consultation on the draft licensing regulations runs for eight weeks from 15 October 2026.