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Housing Benefit for Temporary Accommodation
Housing Benefit For Temporary Accommodation - Procurement Models, HB Entitlement & Subsidy.
Join us for a day dedicated to maximizing Government subsidy aimed at funding the procurement of temporary accommodation for homeless applicants. In this housing benefit workshop, we will seek the “sweet spot” where unrestricted housing benefit (HB) can be awarded against the full cost of procuring temporary accommodation, with 100% subsidy claimed from Central Government.
This Workshop is recommended for HB Managers, Subsidy Officers, and others looking for extensive technical knowledge about housing benefit for temporary accommodation. It is also ideal for those involved in procuring and managing temporary accommodation.
Next Workshop:
Thursday, 15th October, 2026. NOW FULL
Note: If a Workshop you may wish to attend is “FULL” then please email us stating your interest as if we have sufficient enquiries we will try and organise a repeat this year. Otherwise our new Programme of Workshops, including this topic, will commence from the end of January 2027.
Full-Day Workshop: (9:40 - 4:30)
Workshop Fee: £280 (No VAT)
Book 3 places and receive a 4th place FREE.
In-House Bookings are also available for individual organizations, either On-Site or Online.
Housing Benefit For Temporary Accommodation
Procurement Models, HB Entitlement & Subsidy.
Local authorities (LAs) in England and Wales spent £3bn procuring temporary accommodation (TA) for homeless applicants in the year ending March 2025. The statistics for 2025/26 are anticipated in the autumn and will be included in the workshop notes as soon as they are available. Due to the restrictions that apply to housing benefit subsidy for TA, LAs were only able to recoup about half of this expenditure. The local cost rose by £379m compared to the previous year. However, innovative procurement strategies combined with in-depth knowledge of the subsidy regime can help mitigate these losses. This workshop offers detailed analysis of HB entitlement and subsidy for various procurement models, highlighting lesser-known pathways to navigate the subsidy regime.
We will begin by summarizing the duties of local authorities under homelessness legislation and defining what qualifies as “temporary accommodation.” This distinction is crucial for determining whether the charges are eligible for housing benefit or the Universal Credit housing element, as well as for establishing the amount of subsidy when housing benefit is paid. Next, we will explore the various methods of procuring temporary accommodation, with a particular focus on the definitions relevant to housing benefit and Universal Credit. Some models comply with the definitions of temporary accommodation for both Universal Credit and subsidy purposes, while others may meet the criteria for Universal Credit but not for housing benefit subsidy. Key factors include the length of the lease, the nature of the property, and its location relative to the local authority's area.
It's important to remember that maximizing Central Government subsidy is only part of the conversation; a claimant's entitlement to housing benefit must also be considered. We will address the scenarios in which a housing benefit award could be impacted by the bedroom tax and/or the overall household benefit cap. Additionally, the workshop will clarify that, apart from these two issues, there are generally no other restrictions on the amount of housing benefit that could logically apply in temporary accommodation.
As part of the workshop, we will address frequently asked questions and key issues, such as:
• The exclusion of “exempt accommodation” from both the Universal Credit and housing benefit definitions of “temporary accommodation.”
• When a temporary accommodation setting may qualify as exempt accommodation.
• The interplay between temporary accommodation settings classified as “specified accommodation.”
• The definition of local authority hostels in relation to “board and lodging” for subsidy purposes.
• The implications of social housing regulatory regimes in England, including the rent standard and Housing Revenue Accounts.
• The optimal lease duration for subsidy and social housing regulations.
• Understanding out-of-borough placements and which LA administers the housing benefit award, along with its effect on subsidy.
• Identifying when temporary accommodation ceases to be classified as such after the LA’s duty is “discharged.”
By the conclusion of the day, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make significant savings on the cost of procuring temporary accommodation, through our comprehensive housing benefit workshops.
This session will be presented by Peter Barker, a highly experienced trainer, appeals presenter, and submission writer. With roots as a local authority appeals officer since the 1980s, he possesses a wealth of experience representing local authorities in England, Wales, and Scotland at both First-Tier and Upper Tribunal levels. Tribunal judges consistently commend Peter's submissions for their high quality. His extensive first-hand experience, coupled with expert knowledge of adjudication legislation, along with his enthusiasm for the subject, ensures an engaging learning experience.
Topics Covered:
Overview Of Temporary Accommodation
- Duties under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and Part 2 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014
- Definitions for the Universal Credit housing element and for housing benefit subsidy purposes
- Determining the amount of subsidy where the subsidy definition applies
Procurement Models
- Owned, leased, and licensed options
- Board and lodging accommodation
- Housing association as intermediary
- In Borough / Out of Borough provision
- Support services provided
Key Issues
- Understanding the bedroom tax
- Benefit cap implications
- Overlap with exempt and other specified accommodation
§ Council hostels
§ Registered Housing Associations providing supported temporary accommodation
- Social housing regulation in England and its impact on temporary accommodation
§ Rent standard considerations
- The Housing Revenue Account in England
- Optimal lease duration nuances
- Out-of-borough placements:
§ Which LA administers housing benefit?
§ Impact on subsidy?
Please contact us for information on in-house booking opportunities regarding this essential topic.
IN-HOUSE WORKSHOP REQUIRED?
We are always pleased to arrange most of our housing benefit workshops and other training sessions, such as temporary accommodation training and universal credit training, specifically for staff from individual organisations. Please email us with your requirements for more details.
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