Supported exempt accomodation

I was in the city centre earlier to talk to the Council and police about Supported Exempt Accommodation (SEAs).

‘Exempt’ accommodation is like a special form of HMO with lower levels of regulation. In theory, the housing is supposed to support vulnerable people on a temporary basis – and sometimes this happens properly.

But too often, ‘exempt’ accommodation has become a by-word for abuse and fraud, often with links to organised crime.
Birmingham has by far the highest number of SEAs in the country and reports of ‘problem houses’ often (but not always) prove to be exempt accommodation.

Under the law (which dates back to the mid-1990s), there is very little that public authorities can do to stop large numbers of SEAs being set up on single streets.

Despite being not-for-profit in theory, unscrupulous landlords can and do profit from SEAs at the public’s expense.

A government update is expected in the next month or so, followed by consultation on a change in the law early next year. W We need much stronger regulation to clamp down on exploitation and illegality that can make life hell for residents in Northfield and across the city, and I will be making that case to Ministers.