Advice for providers of supported accommodation
Supported Housing in Lewisham and SHROA
We have more than 1,000 supported housing bed spaces across the borough. We currently work with accredited Supported Exempt Accommodation (SEA) providers and monitor services through our Quality Framework to ensure residents receive safe, effective and value for money support.
In response to the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 (SHROA), the Council is undertaking a borough-wide Supported Housing Needs Assessment and developing a Supported Housing Strategy. This work will assess current and future need, existing provision, demand pressures, service quality and gaps in the local market, helping to ensure that future supported housing provision is informed by evidence and aligned with identified local need.
Future accreditation process and temporary pause
All organisations seeking to operate as SEA providers in Lewisham will be required to obtain a supported housing licence when the process reopens. This process is currently paused while the Supported Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy are being completed and will remain paused until their publication in April 2027.
During this period, we will not process applications, accreditation requests or approaches from organisations seeking to establish new SEA services, schemes or service expansions within the borough.
Once the Needs Assessment and Strategy have been published, we will determine future commissioning and market development priorities. We will only engage with the market where there is an evidenced need for additional supported housing provision.
Registering an interest
While the accreditation process remains paused, landlords, developers, registered providers and supported housing organisations interested in delivering or supporting future provision in Lewisham are invited to register their interest with the Council.
Following publication of the Supported Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy in April 2027, the Council will engage with interested organisations where a need for additional provision has been identified. Registering an interest will allow organisations to receive updates and be considered for future engagement opportunities. However, registration of interest does not constitute accreditation, approval, a commitment to commission services, or any guarantee of future business opportunities within the borough.
Please register for updates by email to NewSEAProviders@lewisham.gov.uk