Adapted Property for Supported Living: Finding Suitable Accommodation

A practical guide for supported living providers, landlords, investors and developers looking for adapted property suitable for disability, mobility and specialist supported housing across the UK

Finding an adapted property for supported living requires more than locating a house with a ramp or an accessible bathroom. The accommodation needs to be suitable for the people who will live there, practical for support staff and capable of meeting the property's intended use.

For landlords and investors, adapted supported living property can also provide an opportunity to work with specialist housing providers, particularly where an existing building can be upgraded rather than converted from scratch.

Government guidance describes supported housing as accommodation that should be accessible, appropriate, safe and suitable for residents' individual health, care and support needs.

What Is an Adapted Property for Supported Living?

An adapted property for supported living is a residential property that has been modified, purpose-designed or selected to meet the accessibility and support requirements of its intended residents.

Adaptations can range from relatively simple improvements to substantial refurbishment.

Examples include:

• Level-access entrances

• Ramps

• Wider doorways

• Accessible bathrooms

• Wet rooms

• Grab rails

• Accessible kitchens

• Ground floor bedrooms

• Stair lifts

• Hoist provision

• Adapted parking

• Improved external pathways

• Specialist alarm systems

• Accessible communal areas

• Mobility equipment storage

The appropriate specification depends on the residents. A property adapted for someone with limited mobility may require very different features from accommodation intended for several wheelchair users or people with complex physical disabilities.

Why Adapted Property Can Work Well for Supported Living

Supported living is intended to enable people to live in their own homes while receiving care or support tailored to their needs. CQC distinguishes supported living from care homes, noting that in supported living the accommodation is generally separate from the regulated care provided.

A suitably adapted property can help residents:

• Move around their home more independently

• Access bathrooms and kitchens safely

• Enter and leave the property more easily

• Use communal areas

• Maintain greater control over everyday routines

• Reduce unnecessary reliance on staff

• Remain in accommodation as their needs change

Government housing guidance also recognises that accessible and adaptable housing can support greater independence and can be more effective when accessibility is incorporated from the outset rather than added later.

What Makes a Property Suitable for Adaptation?

Not every residential property is a good candidate for supported living adaptations.

Before buying or leasing a property, providers should assess the underlying layout and structure.

Entrance and External Access

The route from the road, pavement or parking area to the front door should be examined carefully.

Potential requirements include:

• Step-free access

• Suitable ramp gradients

• Wide entrance doors

• Low thresholds

• Adequate turning space

• Handrails where required

• Good external lighting

• Non-slip surfaces

• Accessible pathways

A property with several steps at the entrance may still be adaptable, but the cost and feasibility of installing a suitable access solution should be established before committing to the property.

Internal Doors and Circulation

Internal circulation is particularly important for wheelchair users and residents who use walking aids.

The property should be assessed for:

• Door widths

• Corridor widths

• Turning areas

• Floor levels

• Thresholds

• Furniture positioning

• Bathroom access

• Bedroom access

• Access to communal areas

A property may have an accessible entrance but still be unsuitable because residents cannot comfortably move between the bedroom, bathroom and living areas.

Adapted Bathrooms

Bathrooms are often among the first areas considered when adapting supported living accommodation.

Depending on residents' needs, adaptations can include:

• Wet rooms

• Level-access showers

• Shower seats

• Grab rails

• Accessible toilets

• Appropriate basin positioning

• Anti-scalding controls

• Hoist compatibility

• Emergency call systems

• Additional manoeuvring space

The accommodation should be designed around the actual support requirements rather than installing generic adaptations that may not be useful to residents.

Government supported housing guidance specifically identifies features such as grab rails, anti-scalding controls and alarm points as possible adaptations where appropriate to the client group.

Adapted Kitchens for Supported Living

Some supported living residents may be able to prepare food independently or with limited assistance.

Kitchen adaptations can include:

• Lowered worktops

• Accessible sinks

• Easy-to-operate taps

• Accessible appliance controls

• Suitable cupboard heights

• Clear floor space

• Appropriate lighting

• Easy-access storage

The objective is not necessarily to make every kitchen identical. The layout should reflect the abilities and support requirements of the people who will use it.

Ground Floor Accommodation

Ground floor accommodation can be particularly valuable where residents have mobility difficulties.

A suitable layout could provide:

• Ground floor bedroom

• Accessible bathroom

• Kitchen

• Living area

• Storage

• External access

on the same level.

Bungalows can therefore be attractive options for supported living providers, although a bungalow is not automatically an adapted property. The entrance, internal circulation, bathrooms, kitchen and outdoor areas still need to be assessed.

Wheelchair Accessible Supported Living Property

If a provider is specifically searching for wheelchair accessible supported living accommodation, the property assessment needs to be more detailed.

Consider:

• Wheelchair turning space

• Door widths

• Corridor dimensions

• Bedroom size

• Bathroom circulation

• Kitchen accessibility

• Parking

• Garden access

• Storage for mobility equipment

• Thresholds

• External routes

• Emergency access

Approved Document M provides building regulations guidance on access and use of buildings in England. For dwellings, it identifies categories including visitable dwellings, accessible and adaptable dwellings, and wheelchair-user dwellings. The accessible and wheelchair-user categories apply where required by planning permission.

The relevant building regulations position should therefore be checked for the particular project rather than assuming that every adapted property meets the same standard.

Adapted Property for People With Physical Disabilities

Properties for people with physical disabilities may require adaptations that go beyond ordinary accessibility.

Depending on individual needs, this could include:

• Specialist bathrooms

• Hoist systems

• Ceiling tracking

• Specialist beds

• Wider circulation areas

• Accessible kitchens

• Level access throughout

• Adapted external spaces

• Equipment storage

• Accessible parking

• Emergency systems

For a provider supporting people with significant physical disabilities, it can be more cost-effective to source a property with an adaptable layout than to attempt major structural alterations to an unsuitable building.

Adapted Supported Living for People With Learning Disabilities

Accessibility is not limited to physical mobility.

Supported living properties for people with learning disabilities may also benefit from design features that promote independence, familiarity and safety.

Depending on individual needs, this can include:

• Clear and simple layouts

• Easy-to-understand signage

• Quiet spaces

• Secure external areas

• Accessible communal areas

• Private bedrooms

• Suitable lighting

• Safe kitchens

• Robust finishes

• Appropriate sensory considerations

CQC's current guidance for services supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities emphasises person-centred care, choice, inclusion, control and independence.

The physical property should therefore support the provider's care and support model rather than operating separately from it.

Adapting an Existing Property

An existing house or flat can sometimes be converted into suitable supported living accommodation through a structured refurbishment programme.

Possible works include:

• Bathroom conversion

• Door widening

• Ramp installation

• Kitchen adaptation

• Bedroom reconfiguration

• Additional bathrooms

• Flooring replacement

• Lighting improvements

• Handrails

• External access improvements

• Heating upgrades

• Electrical works

• Fire safety improvements

Before works begin, the property should be surveyed so that structural limitations, planning requirements and building regulations can be identified.

A property that looks suitable during an initial viewing may become considerably more expensive once major structural adaptations are priced.

Planning and Building Regulations

Planning should be considered before committing to substantial adaptations or a change in how a property is used.

Potential issues can include:

• Change of use

• Internal alterations

• Extensions

• New entrances

• Ramps

• Parking changes

• Additional bedrooms

• External structures

• Fire safety works

Building regulations may also apply to alterations and accessibility improvements.

Approved Document M establishes the relevant access and use guidance for buildings in England, while other parts of the Building Regulations may apply depending on the proposed works.

Professional planning and building control advice should be obtained where the position is unclear.

Supported Living Property and CQC

An adapted property does not automatically become a CQC-regulated service simply because it houses people who receive support.

CQC states that supported living involves people living in their own homes 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.

The contractual relationship between accommodation and care is important. CQC explains that individual homes in supported living schemes are generally not treated as locations in the same way as care homes, although the provider's service and operating arrangements determine the regulatory position.

Landlords should therefore understand exactly how the provider intends to operate before agreeing a lease.

Property Requirements Should Match Resident Needs

There is no universal specification for adapted supported living.

A property suitable for one resident may be inappropriate for another.

For example:

Resident requiring basic mobility support

The property might need:

• Ground floor bedroom

• Level entrance

• Grab rails

• Accessible bathroom

• Improved lighting

Wheelchair user

The property may additionally need:

• Wider doors

• Turning space

• Accessible kitchen

• Level-access shower

• Adapted parking

• Accessible garden

Resident with complex physical needs

The property may require:

• Hoist provision

• Specialist bathroom

• Equipment storage

• Larger circulation areas

• Specialist bedroom arrangements

• Additional staff support space

This resident-specific approach is consistent with government supported housing guidance, which states that accommodation should be assessed for its suitability for the specific residents being accommodated.

Location Is Part of Accessibility

A physically accessible property can still be difficult to use if it is poorly located.

Providers should consider proximity to:

• GP surgeries

• Hospitals

• Pharmacies

• Shops

• Public transport

• Parks

• Community facilities

• Employment

• Education

• Family networks

Government programmes currently recognise accessible or adapted homes and purpose-designed supported living as forms of specialist housing for disabled people and people requiring support.

For London property searches, this may mean balancing accessibility with transport connections, local amenities, property prices and the availability of suitable buildings.

Buying Adapted Property for Supported Living

Investors and providers considering a purchase should assess both the property and the adaptation potential.

Important considerations include:

• Purchase price

• Existing adaptations

• Additional adaptation costs

• Structural condition

• Planning

• Building regulations

• Fire safety

• Location

• Parking

• Future maintenance

• Potential alternative use

• Long-term demand

An already adapted property can save time and construction costs, but it should still be independently assessed.

A previous adaptation may have been designed for a completely different resident and may not meet the requirements of the new supported living service.

Leasing an Adapted Property to a Supported Living Provider

Landlords with adapted houses, flats or bungalows may consider leasing them to supported living providers.

Before signing an agreement, establish:

• Who the provider is

• Who will occupy the property

• What support will be delivered

• Whether care will be provided

• Who is responsible for adaptations

• Who pays for repairs

• Who maintains specialist equipment

• Who handles compliance works

• What insurance is required

• What happens to adaptations when the lease ends

The lease should clearly allocate responsibility for both ordinary property maintenance and specialist adaptations.

What Landlords Should Look For

A landlord considering the supported living market should not focus solely on rental income.

The property itself should be assessed for:

• Accessibility

• Layout

• Condition

• Safety

• Adaptability

• Location

• Parking

• Outdoor space

• Maintenance requirements

• Potential refurbishment costs

The landlord should also carry out due diligence on the prospective provider and understand how the property will be used.

Government guidance for supported housing emphasises that properties should be accessible, safe, well maintained and appropriate for residents' needs.

Finding Adapted Supported Living Property in London

London has a broad range of potential specialist housing stock, including:

• Bungalows

• Ground floor flats

• Detached houses

• Semi-detached houses

• Purpose-built apartments

• Adapted residential properties

• Larger buildings suitable for specialist conversion

However, genuinely suitable properties can be difficult to identify.

A provider may require a specific number of bedrooms, wheelchair access, parking, communal space, outdoor space and proximity to local services.

Fraser Bond can help identify properties according to these requirements rather than treating the search as a standard residential property search.

How Fraser Bond Can Help

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

For adapted supported living accommodation, services can include:

• Property sourcing

• Property acquisition

• Property assessment

• Supported living property searches

• Accessibility assessment coordination

• Refurbishment planni