The harsh realities of life inside Birmingham’s poorly managed ‘exempt’ supported housing have been laid bare by city councillors representing the voices of increasingly desperate residents. Once again, there is a desperate plea for government intervention to tackle the rising crises tied to these properties.
During a council debate, members recounted disturbing accounts of drug violence, machete attacks, prostitution, bullying, and degrading behaviour linked to the thousands of exempt hostels spread throughout Birmingham. Councillor Gareth Moore (Conservative, Erdington) described the issue as a “plague on our city” and a severe threat to local communities.
Areas like Winson Green have been overwhelmed by Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and exempt hostels, with little apparent concern for residents’ wellbeing. Complaints flood in from across Birmingham about the dangers and misery caused by these unsupported properties.
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Despite government promises of a crackdown, new regulations passed three years ago remain in consultation limbo. Birmingham alone has seen an unprecedented surge in exempt properties, with over 12,000 now operating in the city, housing more than 32,000 people—many managed by providers with no local ties.
Questions are also surfacing about whether Birmingham City Council’s housing benefits department may be too lenient, potentially enabling providers to call council staff “a soft touch” for claim approvals, as allege Councillor Marcus Bernasconi (Labour, North Edgbaston).
At the recent full council meeting, Liberal Democrat councillors Baber Baz and Deborah Harries detailed open drug dealing, sex work, and violent fights occurring openly in the city. In just eight years, supported exempt accommodation has tripled, radically transforming neighbourhoods to the detriment of long-standing residents.
Cllr Harries shared disturbing experiences from Stechford, where a single exempt property converted from a family home unleashed chaos: naked tenants running through streets, public indecency, machete brandishing, and constant anti-social behaviour including drug-related disturbances. Emergency services frequently respond to fights spurred by alcohol and drugs.
The property quickly became a hotbed of distress, with neighbors pressured for money, police forced to intervene after domestic violence incidents, and a once-peaceful street fractured by drug dealing and noisy disruptions. The environment was not supportive living but rather a breeding ground of disorder.
Cllr Bernasconi’s ward experiences mirror this pattern, including reports of sex workers with clients continually cycling through family streets at night.
Independent councillors Majid Mahmood and Diane Donaldson emphasized that the problem lies not with tenants but the system enabling a few unscrupulous providers to exploit vulnerabilities. Residents seek balanced, well-managed accommodation with proper enforcement and safeguards.
They called for a council tax levy on exempt providers to fund the increased costs of waste management, street cleaning, and enforcement resulting from these properties.
Calls for accountability included criticism of the council’s slow response to planning violations for large exempt properties such as converted care homes. Cllr Moore admonished the council’s housing chief for failures in oversight, while others acknowledged that well-managed exempt housing can make a positive difference to vulnerable people.
However, Cllr Alan Feeney (Reform, Shard End) condemned exploitative developers profiting from planning loopholes and damaging residential communities, accusing other local authorities of offloading problems onto Birmingham.
The council unanimously backed a fresh set of demands to be presented to the Government’s Local Government, Housing and Communities Secretary, underscoring the urgent need for legislation that can regulate the sector effectively.
Birmingham City Council highlighted its multi-disciplinary team’s work tackling antisocial behaviour, improving standards, and saving taxpayers millions by scrutinizing benefit claims. It also runs a voluntary accreditation scheme for providers meeting quality standards.
While praised for these efforts and national recognition of their practices, the council insists stronger powers and national monitoring are essential to prevent exploitation and raise standards citywide.
The crisis in Birmingham’s exempt supported housing sector remains a volatile and deeply concerning issue, demanding urgent government action to protect communities and vulnerable residents alike.