Find a Care Company to Lease My Property - How to Attract the Right Care Operator

If you want to find a care company to lease your property, the right approach is to market the building directly to care operators whose business model matches its size, location, condition and potential use.

A suitable property can be attractive to care companies looking to expand, establish a new service or relocate an existing operation. However, care operators often have specific requirements around property layout, accessibility, planning, refurbishment and regulatory compliance.

For landlords, finding the right operator is therefore about more than securing a tenant. It is about creating a lease arrangement that works for both the property and the care business.

What Type of Care Company Could Lease My Property?

Potential tenants can include established care home operators, residential care providers, nursing care organisations, supported living providers and other specialist care businesses.

The appropriate operator will depend on the property.

For example, a large house with several bedrooms and communal areas could potentially appeal to a specialist residential care operator, while a property with self-contained units may be more appropriate for a supported living or extra care model.

Potential operators may be looking for:

• Former care homes

• Large residential properties

• Former healthcare premises

• Hotels or guesthouses

• Purpose-built care facilities

• Properties requiring refurbishment

• Buildings suitable for conversion

• Properties with gardens and parking

• Accessible properties

• Properties close to local amenities and transport

How to Find a Care Company for Your Property

If you want to lease your property to a care company, targeted marketing is generally more useful than presenting it as an ordinary commercial or residential letting.

A professional property information pack can include:

• Property location

• Floor area

• Number of bedrooms

• Number of bathrooms

• Communal areas

• Kitchen facilities

• Garden or outdoor space

• Parking

• Accessibility

• Floor plans

• Photographs

• Existing planning use

• Previous use

• Current condition

• Refurbishment requirements

• Proposed rent

• Lease length

• Availability date

This gives potential operators enough information to determine whether the building could fit their requirements.

What Do Care Companies Look for in a Property?

Care operators can have very different requirements depending on the service they provide.

Important considerations can include the number and size of bedrooms, bathroom provision, communal areas, accessibility, staff facilities, parking and outdoor space.

The property's location can also be significant. Operators may consider access to public transport, healthcare facilities, shops, employment areas and the communities they serve.

CQC says that when assessing care providers it considers factors including the suitability of applicants, staffing and the size, layout and design of premises where care will be provided.

This means the property's physical characteristics can form an important part of the operator's assessment.

Can I Lease My Property to a Care Company Without Operating the Care Business?

Yes. A property owner can potentially lease a building to an independent care operator rather than operating the care service themselves.

The distinction between the property owner and care provider is important. CQC states that it is the legal entity carrying out the regulated activity that must register, rather than simply the location or care setting.

This means a landlord can own the property while a separate care company operates its business from or at the property, subject to the appropriate legal, planning and regulatory arrangements.

The lease should clearly establish the permitted use of the property and the responsibilities of each party.

Does the Care Company Need CQC Registration?

This depends on the activities the operator intends to provide.

CQC states that providers intending to carry out regulated health or adult social care activities in England must register, and carrying out a regulated activity without registration is an offence.

A landlord should therefore establish what type of service the prospective tenant intends to operate and check its regulatory position where applicable.

For supported living, the regulatory position can differ from a traditional care home. CQC explains that where accommodation and personal care are provided separately and residents can choose a different care provider, the arrangement may fall within supported living or extra care rather than the care-home accommodation activity.

Should I Refurbish My Property Before Finding a Care Company?

Not necessarily.

If the property requires refurbishment, it may be beneficial to identify potential operators before completing major works.

A care company may have its own requirements for:

• Bathrooms

• Bedrooms

• Fire safety

• Accessibility

• Kitchen facilities

• Communal areas

• Security

• Heating

• Electrical systems

• Staff facilities

• Outdoor areas

If you refurbish the entire property before identifying an operator, you could spend money on features that do not match the eventual tenant's requirements.

In some cases, the landlord and operator can agree who will carry out and fund specific works as part of the lease arrangement.

Planning Considerations When Leasing to a Care Company

Planning should be considered before agreeing a change in use or significant alterations.

The appropriate planning position can depend on the property's existing use, the proposed care model, number of occupants and how the service will operate.

A large residential property is not automatically suitable for every type of care use simply because it has enough bedrooms.

Where significant alterations or a change of use are proposed, obtaining appropriate planning and building advice before committing to the project can help prevent delays.

What Should I Check Before Leasing to a Care Operator?

Finding an interested care company is only the beginning.

Before agreeing a long-term lease, landlords should carry out appropriate due diligence on the proposed tenant.

This can include:

• Company history

• Existing care operations

• Financial position

• Management experience

• CQC registration where applicable

• Proposed service model

• References

• Insurance

• Business plan

• Proposed refurbishment

• Maintenance arrangements

• Lease requirements

The operator's financial and operational position should be considered alongside the condition and potential of the property.

A strong property-operator match can provide a more sustainable arrangement than simply accepting the first company interested in the building.

Lease Terms for a Care Company

Care companies may seek longer leases because they could invest significant money into adapting the property and establishing their service.

Important lease terms can include:

• Lease length

• Rent

• Rent reviews

• Rent-free periods

• Repair obligations

• Insurance

• Maintenance

• Refurbishment

• Alteration rights

• Assignment

• Subletting

• Break clauses

• Reinstatement obligations

If the property needs significant investment, the lease structure may need to reflect the operator's expenditure and the time required to establish the service.

Professional legal advice should be obtained before finalising the lease.

A Practical London Example

Suppose you own a large eight-bedroom property in South London with communal rooms, several bathrooms, a garden and off-street parking.

The property is currently vacant and requires refurbishment.

Rather than marketing it as a standard residential rental, you could position it specifically towards care operators looking for an additional location.

A property information pack could include floor plans, photographs, bedroom information, existing facilities, parking, garden space, planning information and proposed lease terms.

Fraser Bond could then help market the property to potential care operators and assess enquiries against the property's characteristics.

If an interested operator requires adaptations, the landlord and operator can discuss the works, funding and responsibilities before completing the lease.

How Fraser Bond Can Help Find a Care Company

If you want to find a care company to lease your property, Fraser Bond can help you develop a specialist property strategy rather than relying solely on general rental marketing.

Our property services can support landlords with:

• Property assessment

• Specialist marketing

• Identifying potential care operators

• Tenant due diligence

• Commercial negotiations

• Refurbishment coordination

• Building works

• Property management

• Repairs and maintenance

The aim is to identify an operator whose requirements are compatible with the building and whose proposed use can support a practical long-term lease.

Find a Care Company to Lease Your Property

If you own a former care home, large residential property, healthcare building or another property with potential for specialist care use, there may be an opportunity to lease it to an experienced care operator.

The first step is to assess the property's condition, location, planning position and potential care use. From there, the property can be presented to operators looking for suitable premises.

If you want to find a care company to lease your property, Fraser Bond can help assess the opportunity, market the property and work towards finding a suitable long-term operator.