Exempt accommodation
Dear Surrey Heath 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
Dear Ms Corderoy,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST
Thank you for your request for information below which was received on
11/02/2022 and has been given the reference IR003861:
The summary of your request was: housing benefit and exempt accommodation
Your request is being handled under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.
The FOI Act requires us to respond promptly and in any case no later than
20 working days unless it is necessary to consider the public interest
test. If this is the case, we will write to you again explaining that this
will be happening. We are then required to provide a full response within
such a time as is reasonable in the circumstances.
Please note that when processing your request for information a copy of
your request including your email address/contact details may be shared
with staff within Surrey Heath Borough Council.
If you have any queries about this email or the processing of your
request, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please remember to quote
the reference number above in any future correspondence.
Further information about your rights is also available from the
Information Commissioner at:-
The Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF
Regards
FOI Team
Surrey Heath Borough Council
Surrey Heath House
Knoll Road
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3HD
01276 707632
[1]www.surreyheath.gov.uk
Great Place • Great Community • Great Future
We now have an on line form on our website for submitting FOI requests
which you may find useful. It may be found at:
https://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/council/i...
SURREY HEATH DISCLAIMER
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
This email and any attachments are intended for the addressee only. The
information contained in this email is accurate at the time of sending
however the council cannot account for events beyond the Councils control
which may change the accuracy after the date of sending. The information
contained in this email is confidential and may be legally privileged. If
you are not the intended recipient, the use of the information contained
in this email or any disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and
may be unlawful. If you have received this email in error please notify
the sender immediately.
Surrey Heath Borough Council reserves the right to monitor all incoming
and outgoing email to ensure compliance with current procedures. This
email has been checked for computer viruses prior to sending, but it is
also your responsibility to virus check the email upon receipt.
For contact and service information, please refer to
[2]www.surreyheath.gov.uk
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
References
Visible links
1. http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/
2. http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/
Dear Ms Corderoy,
Thank you for your request for information about :
housing benefit and exempt accommodation
The information you requested is below.
We do not have a DV hostel, prison leavers accommodation or care leavers
in the borough.
We do have a hostel that opened 20 January 2022. There has not been any HB
expenditure yet
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within three months of the date of receipt of the response to
your original letter and should be addressed to Information Governance
Manager, Legal Services, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey Heath House,
Knoll Road, Camberley, GU15 3HD or emailed
to [1][email address]
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire
SK9 5AF.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Regards
FOI Team
Surrey Heath Borough Council
Surrey Heath House
Knoll Road
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3HD
01276 707632
[2]www.surreyheath.gov.uk
Great Place • Great Community • Great Future
SURREY HEATH DISCLAIMER
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
This email and any attachments are intended for the addressee only. The
information contained in this email is accurate at the time of sending
however the council cannot account for events beyond the Councils control
which may change the accuracy after the date of sending. The information
contained in this email is confidential and may be legally privileged. If
you are not the intended recipient, the use of the information contained
in this email or any disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and
may be unlawful. If you have received this email in error please notify
the sender immediately.
Surrey Heath Borough Council reserves the right to monitor all incoming
and outgoing email to ensure compliance with current procedures. This
email has been checked for computer viruses prior to sending, but it is
also your responsibility to virus check the email upon receipt.
For contact and service information, please refer to
[3]www.surreyheath.gov.uk
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/
3. http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now