053 - The issues in exempt accommodation with Ashley Horsey

In this episode Ashley Horsey, Chief executive of Commonweal Housing explains what exempt accommodation is, why it is needed and why there are issue with exempt accommodation. Ashley talks about his hopes for the future and he shares some great advice for landlords letting properties to supported living providers. Ashley has over 30 years experience in social housing frequently at the hare-brained schemes and crackpot ideas end of the spectrum; much of it spent tackling homelessness and housing need. He is currently Chief Executive of Commonweal Housing, an independent charity working in partnership with front line experts and organizations to investigate, pilot and champion housing based solutions to a wide range of different forms of social injustice. Prior to joining Commonweal, Ashley was Commercial Director at Local Space from 2005-2009, where he helped set up this new housing association in East London which delivered more than 1,100 additional social homes in just 3 years using an innovative buy-to let vehicle after securing more than £200M of new private investment in the social sector. He is currently a board member of a south London based housing association. Previously Ashley had three years in the senior Civil Service as Head of the Government's Bed & Breakfast Unit from 2001-2004, where he successfully lead plans to reduce the use of B&B hotels as temporary accommodation for homeless families. He was Chief Executive of the campaigning charity, The Empty Homes Agency from 1998 – 2001 where he was described by a Minister at the time as a thorn in the side of government. Exempt from Responsibility report can be found here:https://www.commonwealhousing.org.uk/static/uploads/2019/11/Exempt-from-Responsibility-Full-Report-November-2019.pdf Commonweal Housing https://www.commonwealhousing.org.uk/ Lisa Brown became a property investor after a long nursing career. She initially developed heritage properties and then a chance encounter led her to discover supported living. She realized this was a powerful way to invest in property while creating homes for people with a support need. Lisa set about discovering why property investors struggle to let their properties to supported living providers and why providers struggle to find property to let. She has been educating people, raising awareness and working on solutions to this problem ever since. Lisa is the host of the Supported Living Property Podcast and YouTube channel and formed The Supported Living Property Facebook Group.    Lisa is founder of The Supported Living Property Network, a place for property investors and supported living providers to connect, build relationships and communicate about property they have available and/or need. Membership includes access to training courses, monthly training events and networking events and access to The Supported Living Property Network Conference. To find out how you can join The Supported Living Property Network please follow this link: ⁠https://www.supportedlivingproperty.uk/the-supported-living-property-network⁠ Lisa has written a free guide for you: If you are a property investor download this free guide to help you find providers to lease your property: ⁠https://www.supportedlivingproperty.uk/free-guide-for-property-investors⁠   If you are a provider who is looking for property to lease then download this free guide to help you find property: ⁠https://www.supportedlivingproperty.uk/free-guide-for-providers⁠  These interviews are also available as podcasts from your usual podcast provider, just search for The Supported Living Property Podcast. Please make sure you click the "subscribe" button so you don't miss an episode.