18+ Supported Living - Property Requirements and Opportunities

Finding Suitable Property for 18+ Supported Living

18+ supported living provides accommodation and support for adults who need help to live independently while having greater control over their own home and daily life. It can be suitable for young adults moving from children's services into adult support, as well as adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs or other support requirements.

For landlords, investors and care providers, finding the right property is an important part of developing a successful supported living service. The accommodation needs to provide privacy, safety and independence while also being practical for the provider's support model.

Fraser Bond can assist providers, landlords and investors looking for suitable 18+ supported living property, including property sourcing, acquisition, leasing, refurbishment and property management.

What Is 18+ Supported Living?

18+ supported living generally refers to supported living arrangements for adults aged 18 and over.

The resident lives in their own home while receiving care or support designed around their individual needs. The Care Quality Commission describes supported living as a service where people live in their own homes and receive care or support to promote independence. The care is regulated by CQC, while the accommodation itself is not regulated in the same way as a care home.

Supported living can be provided through:

• Shared houses

• Self-contained flats

• Apartments within a supported housing scheme

• Specialist adapted properties

• Small residential schemes

• Dispersed properties across a local area

The appropriate arrangement depends on the needs of residents and the level of support being provided.

18+ Supported Living for Young Adults

For some young people, turning 18 represents a significant change in their housing and support arrangements.

A young adult may move from:

• Children's social care

• Foster care

• A family home

• Residential children's services

• Specialist education

• Other supported accommodation

into adult supported living.

The property should help the person develop greater independence rather than simply replicate a children's residential environment.

Residents may receive support with:

• Cooking

• Cleaning

• Managing money

• Maintaining a tenancy

• Education and employment

• Healthcare appointments

• Shopping

• Travel

• Household routines

• Community participation

The exact level of support should be based on individual needs.

Property Requirements for 18+ Supported Living

There is no single property specification suitable for every adult supported living service.

Before acquiring or leasing a property, providers should establish:

• The intended resident group

• Number of residents

• Level of support

• Shared or self-contained accommodation

• Accessibility requirements

• Staffing arrangements

• Communal space requirements

• Security requirements

• Location requirements

• Potential adaptations

The property should be assessed against the proposed service rather than simply according to its size.

A five-bedroom house, for example, may not be suitable if its bathrooms, circulation space or communal areas cannot support the intended residents.

Location for Adult Supported Living

Location can have a significant impact on residents' independence.

A suitable 18+ supported living property may provide convenient access to:

• Public transport

• Shops and supermarkets

• Healthcare

• Colleges and training

• Employment

• Leisure facilities

• Parks

• Community services

• Places of worship where relevant to residents

Good transport connections can be particularly important for young adults who are learning to travel independently.

Local demand should also be considered before purchasing or converting a property. England's current Local Supported Housing Strategies guidance requires councils to assess existing supported housing supply, unmet need and future demand. The framework includes long-term supported housing such as supported living.

Shared 18+ Supported Living

Shared supported living can provide residents with private bedrooms alongside communal facilities.

A suitable property might include:

• Private bedrooms

• Shared kitchen

• Communal living room

• Adequate bathrooms

• Laundry facilities

• Storage

• Outdoor space

• Staff facilities where required

Shared accommodation can create opportunities for residents to develop household and social skills.

However, residents should not simply be grouped together because a property has enough bedrooms. Their individual needs and compatibility should be considered as part of the provider's service planning.

Self-Contained 18+ Supported Living

Self-contained accommodation can provide a higher level of privacy and independence.

A resident may have their own:

• Bedroom

• Kitchen

• Bathroom

• Living area

• Entrance

This arrangement can be particularly useful for adults who are capable of managing many aspects of daily life but still require ongoing support.

Self-contained supported living can also form part of a wider move-on pathway, allowing residents to progress towards ordinary independent housing when appropriate.

18+ Supported Living for Learning Disabilities

Adults with learning disabilities may require different levels of support depending on their circumstances.

A suitable property may need to support residents with:

• Daily living skills

• Medication routines

• Cooking

• Personal organisation

• Money management

• Community access

• Communication needs

Property design can make a significant difference. Straightforward layouts, suitable kitchens, accessible bathrooms and appropriate communal areas can make everyday activities easier to manage.

18+ Supported Living for Autistic Adults

Autistic adults may benefit from accommodation designed around their individual sensory, communication and support needs.

Depending on the residents, providers may consider:

• Quiet spaces

• Predictable layouts

• Private bedrooms

• Appropriate lighting

• Safe outdoor areas

• Suitable communal areas

• Good access to local amenities

• Secure entrances

There is no universal property specification for autistic adults. The accommodation should be matched to the needs of the people who will live there.

18+ Mental Health Supported Living

Adult supported living can also provide accommodation for people with mental health support needs.

The property may need to provide a stable environment while allowing residents to develop independence and maintain connections with their community.

Location can be important where residents need access to:

• Mental health services

• GP services

• Employment

• Education

• Public transport

• Community facilities

Where a service provides regulated care, the provider needs to establish the applicable CQC requirements. Supported living is distinct from a care home, where accommodation and personal care are provided together.

Safety and Accessibility

Safety should be assessed before a property is selected for 18+ supported living.

Potential considerations include:

• Fire safety

• Electrical safety

• Gas safety

• Secure entrances

• Lighting

• Heating and ventilation

• Building condition

• Safe external areas

• Accessibility

• Maintenance

Accessibility requirements will depend on the residents.

Some properties may require adapted bathrooms, ramps, wider doorways, specialist equipment or other modifications before they can be used effectively.

CQC and 18+ Supported Living

For adult supported living services in England, the regulatory position depends on the care and support being provided.

CQC states that supported living involves people living in their own homes while receiving care and/or support intended to promote independence. The care is regulated by CQC, while the accommodation is generally not regulated as a care home.

This distinction matters for landlords and providers.

A property owner should establish whether the proposed arrangement is genuinely supported living or whether the proposed service could instead fall within another regulated service type.

The provider should also establish its registration requirements before the service begins operating.

Renting Property to an 18+ Supported Living Provider

Landlords with suitable houses or flats may consider leasing property to an established supported living provider.

Before agreeing to a lease, landlords should understand:

• The provider's experience

• The intended resident group

• The age range

• The proposed use

• Support arrangements

• Required alterations

• Repair responsibilities

• Maintenance arrangements

• Insurance

• Lease length

• Conditions for alterations

• Compliance responsibilities

A clear lease can help establish how the property will be occupied, maintained and altered.

Buying Property for 18+ Supported Living

Investors considering adult supported living property should assess the individual opportunity rather than assuming that every supported living property will have the same commercial potential.

Relevant factors can include:

• Purchase price

• Location

• Local demand

• Property condition

• Refurbishment costs

• Accessibility

• Property layout

• Provider strength

• Lease structure

• Maintenance requirements

• Long-term suitability

Local authority supported housing strategies can provide useful evidence about local supply and unmet need. Current England guidance requires local authorities to assess supported housing availability and projected demand as part of their strategic planning.

Refurbishing Property for 18+ Supported Living

Existing residential properties can sometimes be adapted for adult supported living.

Potential works include:

• Bathroom adaptations

• Kitchen upgrades

• Fire safety improvements

• Electrical works

• Heating upgrades

• Accessibility improvements

• Internal reconfiguration

• Flooring

• Decoration

• Garden improvements

• Security upgrades

The refurbishment specification should be based on the provider's actual requirements.

Fraser Bond can coordinate refurbishment and building works, helping landlords and supported living providers prepare suitable properties without undertaking unnecessary alterations.

Finding 18+ Supported Living Property

Finding suitable adult supported living property requires more than locating a large residential building.

The property needs to work for residents, the provider and the landlord. Its location, layout, condition, accessibility, refurbishment requirements and intended use all need to be considered together.

Fraser Bond can assist supported living providers, landlords and investors with property sourcing, acquisition, leasing, refurbishment and ongoing property management.

For 18+ supported living, careful property selection can help create a home that supports independence while providing landlords and investors with a clearer framework for managing the property.