Exempt accommodation
Dear Eastbourne Borough 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
Thank you for your information request received today.
I am currently reviewing your request and investigating whether there is
any information available for disclosure. The Council, in accordance with
Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’), will reply
to your request promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth
working day following the date of receipt. Subject Access Requests will be
responded to within one calendar month in line with the GDPR (General Data
Protection Regulation).
In accordance with section 8(1)(b) of the Act and related guidance from
the Information Commissioner’s Office, the Council reserves the right to
treat any request for information as invalid unless the requester supplies
their real name. In such cases, the Council may request proof of
identity.
Kind Regards
Information Governance Officer
Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council
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Dear Ms. Corderoy,
Information Request: EFOI 15545
Thank you for your information request dated 10 February 2022 received in
our office on the same day.
(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 have reviewed your request and investigated whether there is any
information which can be disclosed to you and have found that Eastbourne
Borough Council does not hold the information you have requested. Exempt
accommodation is administered by East Sussex County Council and we do not
hold benefit data in a way which enables us to provide a response to these
questions.
• The responsible authority for adult welfare is East Sussex County
Council and their Freedom of Information Officer can be contacted at
the address below.
Freedom of Information Officer
East Sussex County Council
W1D, D Floor, West Block
County Hall
St Anne’s Crescent
Lewes
BN7 1UE
Tel: 01273 482913
Email: [1][email address]
All applicants have a 'right of review'. A review should be focused on
the original request and should identify how the council’s response failed
to answer your information request. Requests for reviews must be made in
writing (or e-mail) within 40 working days of receipt of this response and
addressed to the Information Governance Reviews Officer, to the address
below.
Information Governance Reviews Officer
Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council
1 Grove Road
EASTBOURNE
BN21 4TW
Email: [2][email address]
Please contact me again, quoting your reference number, if you require any
further assistance with your current request and I will do my best to
provide the relevant help and advice.
Regards,
Kevin Rance
Information Governance Officer
Tel: +44(0)1273 471600
[3][email address]
Lewes and Eastbourne Legal Services acting on behalf of Lewes District
Council and Eastbourne Borough Council
Lewes District Council: Southover House, Southover Road, Lewes BN7 1AB
[4]www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk. Minicom 01273 484488
Eastbourne Borough Council: 1 Grove Road, Eastbourne BN21 4TW
[5]www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk. Text Relay 18001 01323 410000
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