Accessible Supported Living: Finding Suitable UK Property

A practical guide for landlords, investors, developers and care providers sourcing accessible supported living accommodation for disabled adults across the UK

Accessible supported living is designed to give people with disabilities a home that works around their individual needs while allowing them to receive the care or support required to live as independently as possible.

For property owners and supported living providers, accessibility is not simply about installing a ramp at the front door. The entire property may need to work for residents with different mobility, sensory or physical requirements, from the entrance and bedroom layout to bathrooms, kitchens, communal areas and outdoor access.

CQC defines supported living as a service where a person lives in their own home and receives care or support to promote independence. The care is regulated by CQC, while the accommodation is generally not regulated as a care home.

What Is Accessible Supported Living?

Accessible supported living is accommodation that has been designed or adapted so that disabled residents can use their home safely and with as much independence as possible.

Residents may include people with:

• Physical disabilities

• Mobility impairments

• Learning disabilities

• Autism

• Neurological conditions

• Sensory impairments

• Multiple disabilities

• Long-term support needs

The level of support varies. Some residents may need occasional assistance, while others may receive continuous care and support.

The property should therefore be matched to the specific needs of the residents rather than relying on a generic definition of accessibility.

What Makes Supported Living Accessible?

A genuinely accessible property should be assessed from the resident's perspective.

Important features can include:

• Step-free entrances

• Accessible doorways

• Adequate internal circulation

• Wheelchair turning space

• Accessible bathrooms

• Adaptable kitchens

• Suitable bedroom sizes

• Ground-floor accommodation where appropriate

• Accessible outdoor areas

• Parking or suitable drop-off space

• Storage for mobility equipment

Government guidance currently recognises accessible or adapted homes and purpose-designed supported living as forms of specialist housing for working-age disabled people with substantial or long-term support or care needs.

Accessible Entrances and Circulation

The entrance is one of the first areas landlords should assess.

A property may require:

• Level access

• A suitable ramp

• Low thresholds

• Accessible pathways

• Easy-to-operate doors

• Adequate landing space

• Suitable lighting

• Covered drop-off arrangements

Internal circulation is equally important. Narrow corridors, tight doorways and awkward room layouts can make a property difficult to use even when the entrance itself is accessible.

For wheelchair users, the route from the entrance to the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and communal areas should be considered as one continuous journey.

Bedrooms for Accessible Supported Living

Bedrooms should provide enough space for residents to use mobility equipment and receive assistance where required.

Depending on the resident's needs, space may be required for:

• Wheelchairs

• Specialist beds

• Hoists

• Walking aids

• Transfer equipment

• Other mobility equipment

• Carer access

Ground-floor bedrooms can be particularly useful for residents who cannot safely use stairs.

Where an upper-floor bedroom is necessary, the feasibility and cost of suitable access should be established before the property is committed to.

Accessible Bathrooms

Bathrooms are often one of the most important parts of an accessible supported living property.

Potential features include:

• Level-access showers

• Wet rooms

• Accessible toilets

• Grab rails

• Shower seating

• Hoist-compatible layouts

• Non-slip flooring

• Adequate turning space

• Space for support workers

An ordinary bathroom may look perfectly adequate during a property viewing but prove unsuitable once a wheelchair or specialist equipment is introduced.

For this reason, a detailed property assessment should be completed before major investment decisions are made.

Kitchens and Independent Living

Accessible supported living should encourage independence wherever possible.

An adapted kitchen may include:

• Appropriate worktop heights

• Accessible storage

• Easy-to-operate appliances

• Accessible sinks

• Clear circulation space

• Suitable flooring

• Space for mobility equipment

The exact design should depend on the resident's abilities.

For some people, an accessible kitchen can make it possible to prepare meals independently. For others, staff may provide more substantial assistance.

Communal Areas

Shared accommodation needs to provide communal areas that can be used comfortably by all residents.

These might include:

• Living rooms

• Dining areas

• Activity rooms

• Accessible gardens

• Outdoor seating

• Shared kitchens

Furniture placement is important. Even a large room can become difficult to navigate if furniture blocks circulation routes.

The property should also provide residents with appropriate privacy and personal space.

Staff and Overnight Support

Supported living can involve different staffing arrangements.

Depending on residents' needs, staff may provide scheduled visits, continuous support, waking-night support or sleep-in arrangements.

Where staff are regularly present, the property may require:

• Staff office space

• Secure storage

• Equipment storage

• Staff rest facilities

• Overnight accommodation where appropriate

CQC describes supported living as care and support that can be continuous but is tailored to individual needs, with the aim of enabling people to remain as autonomous and independent as possible.

Location and Community Access

Accessibility should not stop at the front door.

A suitable property should ideally provide reasonable access to:

• GP surgeries

• Hospitals

• Pharmacies

• Shops

• Public transport

• Parks

• Leisure facilities

• Community centres

• Employment

• Education

• Family and social networks

The Government's current specialist housing programme identifies accessible or adapted homes and purpose-designed supported living as important forms of accommodation for working-age disabled people.

For residents who rely on public transport or mobility aids, a property that is physically accessible but isolated from essential services may still create unnecessary barriers.

Buying Property for Accessible Supported Living

Investors looking to purchase a property should assess its adaptability before focusing on potential rental income.

Important questions include:

• Is the entrance already accessible?

• Can doorways be widened?

• Can bathrooms be converted?

• Is there sufficient ground-floor space?

• Can specialist equipment be installed?

• Is parking available?

• Can residents access outdoor areas?

• Is there enough space for staff?

• Are major structural alterations required?

• What will the refurbishment cost?

A property that requires substantial adaptation can still be viable, but the full cost of making it suitable should be included in the investment assessment.

Adapting Existing Residential Property

Many standard houses and flats can potentially be adapted for accessible supported living.

Works may include:

• Installing ramps

• Widening doorways

• Creating wet rooms

• Reconfiguring bedrooms

• Improving entrances

• Adapting kitchens

• Installing stairlifts

• Improving lighting

• Upgrading electrical systems

• Improving fire safety

• Creating accessible outdoor areas

• Installing specialist equipment

Fraser Bond can support landlords, investors and supported living providers with property assessment, refurbishment planning, building works and contractor coordination.

Planning and Regulatory Considerations

Planning requirements should be investigated before substantial alterations or a change of use.

The position can depend on:

• Number of residents

• Proposed use

• Staffing arrangements

• Existing lawful use

• Physical alterations

• Nature of the support service

The distinction between supported living and a care home is also important.

CQC states that supported living involves people living in their own homes while receiving care or support. In this model, the care is regulated by CQC but the accommodation is generally not regulated as a care home.

CQC examples also demonstrate arrangements where residents' care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements and the individual supported living premises are not regulated by CQC as care home locations.

This means a landlord leasing a property to a supported living provider is not automatically operating the regulated care service.

Leasing Accessible Property to a Provider

Landlords may choose to lease accessible property to an established supported living provider.

Before agreeing terms, it is sensible to establish:

• Who the provider is

• Who the intended residents are

• What support will be provided

• How the property will be used

• Relevant regulatory arrangements

• Lease length

• Rent structure

• Repair responsibilities

• Adaptation responsibilities

• Insurance requirements

• Maintenance arrangements

The lease should clearly state who is responsible for accessibility adaptations, ongoing repairs and reinstatement when the tenancy ends.

Accessible Supported Living in London

London contains a wide variety of houses, flats and specialist housing that may be suitable for accessible supported living.

Older properties can create particular challenges, including:

• Narrow hallways

• Steep staircases

• Small bathrooms

• Split-level layouts

• Limited parking

• Restricted entrances

• Uneven external access

Purpose-built developments can sometimes provide better step-free access, while larger houses may provide more flexibility for adaptations, communal areas and staff facilities.

Outer London properties may also offer more space and parking than smaller central properties.

The most suitable property should be determined by resident needs, not simply by postcode or property size.

Investment Considerations

Accessible supported living property should be assessed as a specialist property investment rather than an ordinary buy-to-let.

Investors should consider:

• Purchase price

• Acquisition costs

• Professional fees

• Planning

• Accessibility adaptations

• Refurbishment

• Financing

• Insurance

• Maintenance

• Property management

• Lease structure

• Provider strength

• Future capital expenditure

• Potential alternative uses

Specialist adaptations can increase the property's suitability for supported living but may also reduce its flexibility for conventional residential use.

The investment assessment should therefore consider both the specialist opportunity and the property's long-term adaptability.

What Providers Should Include in a Property Brief

Supported living providers can make the search process more efficient by preparing a detailed property specification.

The brief could include:

• Number of residents

• Resident disabilities and support needs

• Wheelchair requirements

• Bedroom requirements

• Bathroom requirements

• Staffing arrangements

• Overnight support

• Equipment requirements

• Preferred locations

• Parking requirements

• Outdoor space

• Refurbishment budget

• Target property type

A detailed brief makes it easier for landlords and property professionals to identify buildings that can realistically be adapted.

How Fraser Bond Can Help

Fraser Bond supports landlords, investors, developers and specialist accommodation providers with UK property requirements.

For accessible supported living projects, services can include:

• Property sourcing

• Acquisition support

• Property assessment

• Planning coordination

• Refurbishment planning

• Accessibility improvements

• Building works

• Contractor coordination

• Compliance support

• Maintenance management

• Facilities support

• Property management

• Landlord and provider support

The focus is on finding property that works for residents while also meeting the practical requirements of the organisation delivering the support.

Build the Property Around the Resident

Accessible supported living should begin with the needs of the people who will live there.

A property that has a ramp but inaccessible bathrooms, narrow doorways or poor internal circulation is not necessarily suitable. Accessibility needs to be considered throughout the building and in the surrounding community.

For landlords, investors and supported living providers looking for accessible supported living property in London or elsewhere in the UK, Fraser Bond can assist with sourcing, assessment, refurbishment, contractor coordination and ongoing property management.