But they claim their hands are tied by the transitional housing benefit regime for supported accommodation, which comes into effect in just nine months time.
The regulations, currently being considered by parliament's social security advisory committee, are aimed at helping officials set grant levels for the Supporting People regime in 2003.
But critics complain that they rely on a dated definition of sheltered housing, which says tenants with a non-resident warden will only be eligible for the benefit if they share a common room.
Department of social security ministers are preparing to meet housing association representatives later this month to debate the proposals.
More than 30 registered social landlords are warning ministers the definition will hamper plans to operate more cost effectively.
Chartered Institute of Housing policy and liaison officer Sam Lister said non-resident warden services were more flexible and cheaper to run.
He added that many new sheltered housing schemes were designed without a common room, "because there is no demand from residents for them."
A spokesman for Anchor trust condemned the government's definition of sheltered accommodation as a "dog's breakfast".
"It will exclude huge numbers of sheltered housing schemes, "the spokesman said. "The figures the government is going to collate under that heading are going to be meaningless."
National Housing Federation policy officer Kathleen Boyle said: "It would be a great pity if providers were to provide a less effective service just to remain on the right side of this new housing benefit rule."
Source
Housing Today
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