Exempt accommodation
Dear Warwickshire County Council,
This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
This request concerns “exempt accommodation”. The UK Parliament defines this as: “Supported housing which is exempt from certain Housing Benefit provisions. It is a sector which houses more marginalised groups with support needs, such as recent prison leavers; care leavers; those fleeing domestic violence; and homeless people with substance dependence or mental health issues.”
I understand that housing benefit for people in “exempt accommodation” is paid by the council directly to landlords.
I would like to request the following information:
(1) Please state how much housing benefit has been paid by the council directly to landlords to provide “exempt accommodation” for those in receipt of the benefits. Please provide the figures for each of the past three financial years (2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21), as well as any available data for 2021/22.
(2) Please provide a list of the 20 landlords that have received the highest amount in housing benefit from the council for providing “exempt accommodation” for those in receipt of the benefits. Again, please provide this information for each of the past three financial years (2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21) as well as any available data for 2021/22. For each year, please (a) provide the landlord’s full name or company name, (b) state the total amount they received from the council in each year.
I would like to highlight how the Information Commissioner’s Office has previously ruled that this type of information should be disclosed. For example, in 2015, the ICO held that Torbay Council was not entitled to withhold the names of landlords who have directly received the largest amounts of housing benefit. In 2014, the ICO also ruled that Halton Borough Council was wrong to withhold similar information.
I would like to receive the data in an Excel format. If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible within a reasonable timeframe, I would be grateful if you could contact me and provide assistance as to how I can refine the request. If you need any clarification, please contact me.
I look forward to receiving a response in 20 working days. Many thanks.
Yours faithfully,
Jenna Corderoy
Thankyou for your email to the Information Rights Team at Warwickshire
County Council.
If we need further information to deal with your request, we will contact
you.
Kind regards
Information Rights Team
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Information request
Our reference: 7588070
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Dear Ms Corderoy
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 10
February 2022. We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000
Under our normal statutory requirements we are required to provide you
with a response within 20 working days of the receipt of your request.
Therefore we aim to send a response by 10 March 2022.
In some case, a fee may be payable. If we decide a fee is payable, we will
send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before
proceeding with your request.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 may restrict the release of some or
all of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment
and if any exemptions apply to some or all of the information then we
might not provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is
the case and advise you of your right to request an internal review and to
complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
Kind regards
Jonathan Sheward
Information Rights Officer
Information Management
Warwickshire County Council
Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4RL
Tel: 01926 413716
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.
Information request
Our reference: 7588070
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Dear Ms Corderoy,
Thank you for your request for information received on 10 February 2022.
Please find attached our response to your request.
Yours sincerely
Jonathan Sheward
Information Rights Officer
Information Management
Warwickshire County Council
Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4RL
Tel: 01926 413716
Email: [email address]
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.
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