Acquired Brain Injury Supported Living: Finding Suitable Property

A practical guide for supported living providers, landlords, investors and developers looking for suitable accommodation for adults with acquired brain injury across the UK

Acquired brain injury supported living provides accommodation and tailored support for adults whose lives have been affected by an acquired brain injury. Depending on the individual's needs, support may involve personal care, rehabilitation, mobility, communication, medication, daily living skills and community participation.

For property owners and supported living providers, the building is an important part of the service environment. The right property should provide a safe and practical home while allowing residents to develop independence and maintain an appropriate level of choice and control.

CQC records show supported living services that provide personal care and support to people with acquired brain injury, sometimes alongside learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions and other complex needs.

What Is Acquired Brain Injury Supported Living?

Acquired brain injury supported living is accommodation where adults with an acquired brain injury live in their own home or supported housing arrangement while receiving care and support suited to their individual circumstances.

An acquired brain injury can have very different effects from one person to another. Some residents may have physical disabilities or mobility difficulties, while others may primarily require support with memory, communication, cognition, behaviour or everyday decision-making.

Support can include:

• Personal care

• Meal preparation

• Medication support

• Household tasks

• Mobility assistance

• Communication support

• Managing finances

• Community access

• Developing independent living skills

• Rehabilitation and reablement

• Emotional and behavioural support

The property should therefore be selected around the needs of the people who will live there rather than around a generic supported housing specification.

What Does ABI Supported Living Accommodation Look Like?

There is no single property type suitable for every ABI supported living service.

Potential accommodation can include:

• Detached houses

• Semi-detached houses

• Bungalows

• Ground floor flats

• Self-contained apartments

• Small supported living schemes

• Purpose-built specialist housing

• Adapted residential properties

The appropriate model depends on the level of support, number of residents, staffing arrangements and degree of independence expected.

For example, CQC records include supported living services for people with acquired brain injury where accommodation and care are arranged separately.

Property Requirements for Acquired Brain Injury Supported Living

The property should be assessed against the specific needs of prospective residents.

Accessible Entrance

The entrance and route into the building should be safe and practical.

Depending on residents' mobility, requirements may include:

• Step-free access

• Suitable ramps

• Wide entrance doors

• Low thresholds

• Handrails

• Good external lighting

• Non-slip surfaces

• Adequate manoeuvring space

A property can be adapted if necessary, but the cost and feasibility of those works should be established before agreeing to purchase or lease it.

Ground Floor Living

Ground floor accommodation can be particularly useful for residents with mobility difficulties or those who cannot safely use stairs.

A suitable property might have the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and main living space on one level.

Bungalows can therefore be attractive for ABI supported living, although the property's overall layout and accessibility still need to be assessed.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms should provide sufficient space for residents to use the room safely and comfortably.

Depending on individual requirements, the room may need to accommodate:

• Wheelchairs

• Walking aids

• Specialist beds

• Mobility equipment

• Storage

• Transfer equipment

• Staff access

Privacy is also important. Residents should have their own personal space while being able to access communal areas where appropriate.

Accessible Bathrooms

Bathrooms can require substantial adaptation.

Potential features include:

• Level-access showers

• Wet rooms

• Grab rails

• Shower seating

• Accessible toilets

• Appropriate basin positioning

• Anti-scalding controls

• Emergency call systems

• Space for mobility equipment

Where a resident has significant physical needs, additional specialist equipment may be required.

Supporting Independence Through Property Design

An important consideration in ABI supported living is how the property can help residents maintain or develop independence.

CQC assessments of ABI services have highlighted support for independence, choice and control, including helping people develop everyday living skills and progress according to their individual rehabilitation needs.

The accommodation can support this by providing opportunities for residents to:

• Prepare meals

• Manage their own bedroom

• Participate in household routines

• Use communal areas

• Access gardens

• Practise daily living skills

• Travel into the community

• Develop greater independence over time

A property should therefore not be designed entirely around staff convenience. It should also allow residents to do as much for themselves as is safe and appropriate.

Kitchen Requirements

For some residents, preparing food can be an important part of independent living and rehabilitation.

Kitchen design may need to consider:

• Clear circulation space

• Safe appliance positioning

• Easy-to-use controls

• Accessible storage

• Appropriate worktop heights

• Good lighting

• Safe flooring

The precise specification should reflect individual abilities.

Some residents may require staff support in the kitchen, while others may be capable of preparing meals with minimal assistance.

Layout and Environmental Considerations

Some people with ABI may experience difficulties with memory, concentration, communication, sensory processing or emotional regulation.

A carefully planned property may therefore benefit from:

• Simple circulation routes

• Clearly defined rooms

• Quiet areas

• Private bedrooms

• Good natural lighting

• Appropriate acoustic conditions

• Consistent room layouts

• Secure outdoor areas

The environment should be tailored to residents rather than assuming that every person with an acquired brain injury has the same requirements.

ABI Supported Living for Complex Needs

Some residents with acquired brain injury may also have:

• Physical disabilities

• Epilepsy

• Learning disabilities

• Autism

• Mental health conditions

• Communication difficulties

• Behavioural support needs

• Neurological conditions

• Mobility limitations

This can significantly change the property's requirements.

A service may need additional bathrooms, specialist equipment storage, staff facilities, enhanced accessibility or a larger communal area.

CQC records demonstrate that ABI can be supported alongside other complex needs within supported living and specialist care environments.

Rehabilitation and ABI Supported Living

Supported living can form part of a longer-term pathway following specialist rehabilitation.

Some ABI services focus on rehabilitation and help people develop everyday skills before moving into community housing with support. CQC records include services where people receiving rehabilitation subsequently move into community accommodation with support.

For property providers, this means adaptability can be valuable.

A resident's needs may change as they become more independent. A property that can accommodate changing support requirements may provide greater long-term flexibility.

Location Matters

A suitable ABI property should also connect residents with the wider community.

Providers may consider proximity to:

• GP surgeries

• Hospitals

• Pharmacies

• Shops

• Public transport

• Parks

• Leisure facilities

• Community centres

• Employment

• Education and training

• Family networks

The objective is not simply to provide a suitable building, but accommodation where residents can participate in ordinary community life where appropriate.

Buying Property for ABI Supported Living

Care providers and investors considering purchasing a property should assess both the existing building and its potential for adaptation.

Important considerations include:

• Purchase price

• Property condition

• Existing accessibility

• Adaptation costs

• Number of bedrooms

• Bathroom provision

• Parking

• Outdoor space

• Location

• Planning requirements

• Building regulations

• Fire safety

• Long-term maintenance

A property that is already partially adapted can reduce refurbishment requirements, but existing adaptations should still be assessed against the intended residents.

Leasing Property to an ABI Supported Living Provider

Landlords with suitable houses, bungalows or flats may consider leasing them to a supported living provider.

Before agreeing a lease, the landlord should establish:

• Who the provider is

• What support will be delivered

• Who will occupy the property

• Whether personal care will be provided

• Whether the provider requires CQC registration

• Who will pay for adaptations

• Who is responsible for repairs

• Who maintains specialist equipment

• What insurance is required

• What happens to adaptations at the end of the lease

The distinction between accommodation and care arrangements is important. CQC explains that supported living generally involves a person living in their own home while receiving care or support, with the care regulated by CQC but the accommodation generally not regulated in the same way as a care home.

CQC also explains that individual homes within supported living schemes are generally not treated as locations in the same way as care homes, although the provider's management arrangements and service model determine the applicable registration position.

Adapting an Existing Property

An ordinary residential property can sometimes be converted into suitable ABI supported living accommodation.

Potential works can include:

• Bathroom refurbishment

• Wet room installation

• Door widening

• Ramp installation

• Handrails

• Kitchen modifications

• Bedroom alterations

• Additional bathrooms

• Improved lighting

• Flooring replacement

• Accessible garden routes

• Security improvements

• Fire safety works

Before refurbishment begins, the property should be surveyed and the intended use considered carefully.

Planning permission or building regulations approval may be required depending on the nature and scale of the works.

Choosing Between a House, Flat and Bungalow

Each property type can suit a different ABI supported living model.

Bungalows provide single-level circulation and can be useful for residents with mobility difficulties.

Houses can provide multiple bedrooms and shared communal facilities.

Ground floor flats can provide accessible accommodation in urban areas with good transport links.

Self-contained apartments can offer greater independence while allowing residents to access shared support where appropriate.

The right option depends on resident needs, staffing, location and the intended support model.

ABI Supported Living and CQC

The regulatory position depends on the service being delivered and how accommodation and care are structured.

CQC regulates relevant health and social care activities, while supported living accommodation is generally treated differently from a care home where the person's housing and care arrangements are separate.

A care provider should establish its registration requirements before operating an ABI supported living service.

Landlords should also understand that owning or leasing a property does not automatically make them responsible for the provider's regulated care activities. The contractual and operational arrangements need to be clearly established.

Finding ABI Supported Living Property in London

London has a varied property market that includes houses, flats, bungalows, ground floor apartments and buildings with potential for specialist conversion.

However, ABI providers may need a specific combination of:

• Accessible entrance

• Ground floor accommodation

• Suitable bedrooms

• Adapted bathrooms

• Communal space

• Parking

• Outdoor space

• Transport connections

• Local amenities

• Adaptation potential

Fraser Bond can approach this as a specialist property search rather than a conventional residential property search.

How Fraser Bond Can Help

Fraser Bond works with landlords, investors, developers and property operators across the UK property market.

For acquired brain injury supported living requirements, our services can include:

• Specialist property sourcing

• Property acquisition

• Property leasing support

• Property assessment

• Accessibility improvement planning

• Refurbishment

• Building works

• Contractor coordination

• Property management

• Maintenance

• Compliance support

• Development consultancy

• Investment advice

Whether you are an ABI provider searching for a suitable home or a landlord with a property that could be adapted for specialist supported living, Fraser Bond can help assess the property's potential and coordinate the required property services.

Looking for Acquired Brain Injury Supported Living Property?

The right ABI supported living property should provide more than accommodation. It should support safety, independence, rehabilitation and meaningful participation in the community.

The most effective property search begins by understanding the needs of the intended residents and then assessing whether an existing building can meet those requirements or can be realistically adapted.

Fraser Bond can help source, assess, adapt and manage property for acquired brain injury supported living requirements across London and the wider UK.