Find Property for Supported Living: Finding Suitable UK Accommodation

A practical guide for supported living providers, care operators, landlords, investors and developers looking to find suitable supported living property across London and the UK

Finding property for supported living requires more than finding a large house or residential building. The property needs to work for the people who will live there, the support model being delivered and the practical requirements of the operator.

Supported living can cover a wide range of residents, including adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, mental health needs, acquired brain injuries and other support needs. Depending on the model, accommodation can be self-contained or shared. Current government guidance describes supported living as long-term supported housing with care and support, which can be provided in self-contained or shared accommodation.

For operators searching for property, the right building can make a significant difference to accessibility, refurbishment costs, staffing arrangements and the overall viability of the service.

What property is suitable for supported living?

There is no single property type that works for every supported living service.

Potential options can include:

• Large detached houses

• Bungalows

• Flats and apartments

• Blocks of self-contained flats

• Former care homes

• Former residential care properties

• Former healthcare buildings

• Purpose-designed supported living schemes

• New-build residential developments

• Converted residential properties

• Small clusters of accessible homes

The appropriate property depends on the people being supported and whether the service requires shared accommodation, individual flats or a combination of both.

A supported living property may also need to allow residents to maintain greater control over their accommodation. This is one of the characteristics that distinguishes supported living from traditional residential care.

Start with a clear supported living property brief

Before beginning the property search, operators should establish exactly what they need.

A property brief can cover:

• Target resident group

• Number of residents

• Number of bedrooms

• Single or shared accommodation

• Self-contained units

• Communal facilities

• Staff requirements

• Overnight support

• Accessibility

• Parking

• Garden or outdoor space

• Location

• Budget

• Purchase or lease preference

• Refurbishment requirements

For example, a provider supporting adults with physical disabilities may require wheelchair-accessible entrances, adapted bathrooms, suitable circulation space and accommodation for specialist equipment.

A provider supporting people with lower support needs may require a more conventional residential layout.

Find property for supported living based on resident needs

The resident profile should influence the property search from the beginning.

Potential supported living models include:

• Learning disability supported living

• Physical disability supported living

• Autism supported living

• Mental health supported living

• Acquired brain injury accommodation

• Complex needs supported living

• Young adult supported living

• Older people's supported living

• Accessible supported housing

Government guidance on specialist and supported housing recognises purpose-designed and adapted supported living for working-age disabled people, alongside other forms of specialist accommodation.

This means the property should be assessed around the actual needs of residents rather than simply its bedroom count.

Large houses can work for supported living

Large residential houses are often considered by supported living providers because they can provide several bedrooms alongside communal areas.

Potential advantages include:

• Multiple bedrooms

• Shared kitchen

• Communal lounge

• Dining space

• Garden

• Parking

• Staff office

• Storage

• Flexible internal layout

However, large houses can also require substantial adaptation.

A period property with narrow corridors, steps, small bathrooms or multiple floor levels may be unsuitable for residents with significant mobility requirements unless the necessary works are feasible.

Bungalows can be suitable for accessible supported living

Bungalows can be particularly useful where residents require accessible accommodation.

A single-storey property can reduce the need for residents to use stairs and may make it easier to create accessible circulation routes.

Potential features to look for include:

• Level entrance

• Wide doorways

• Accessible bathrooms

• Large bedrooms

• Open-plan communal areas

• Accessible kitchen

• Garden access

• Parking close to the entrance

A bungalow should still be professionally assessed because accessibility requirements can vary considerably between residents.

Self-contained flats and supported living

Supported living does not always need to operate from a large shared house.

Self-contained flats can be appropriate where residents require greater independence or privacy while still receiving support.

A scheme might contain:

• Individual flats

• Shared communal facilities

• Staff office

• Staff sleep-in accommodation

• Shared garden

• Accessible entrances

• Secure storage

The separation between accommodation and support arrangements is an important feature of many supported living models. Government guidance describes supported living as accommodation where care and support can be provided separately from the housing arrangement.

Check planning before securing the property

Planning should be investigated before committing to a supported living property.

The proposed use, number of residents, staffing arrangements and physical layout can all affect the planning position.

The buyer or operator should establish:

• Existing lawful use

• Previous use

• Planning history

• Whether the proposed use requires planning permission

• Whether a lawful development certificate may be appropriate

• Occupancy considerations

• Any planning conditions

• Whether extensions are possible

• Whether accessibility alterations require consent

Planning decisions can vary according to the specific circumstances of a property. For example, a 2026 planning application in Hull concerned proposed supported living accommodation for up to three residents and two carers under Use Class C3(b).

This illustrates why the proposed model should be assessed against the individual property's planning position rather than assuming that every supported living service has the same requirements.

CQC and supported living property

The regulatory position depends on the services being provided.

Supported living accommodation and care provision can operate under separate arrangements. Where personal care is provided as a regulated activity, the care provider may need CQC registration. Government guidance states that CQC registration is generally required where regulated personal care is being provided in supported living settings.

The property itself should therefore not be treated as automatically "CQC registered".

An operator should establish which regulated activities apply to its particular service and ensure the proposed premises support the required care model.

Check bedrooms and bathrooms

Bedrooms should be assessed according to the needs of the intended residents.

Important considerations include:

• Bedroom size

• Accessibility

• Natural light

• Storage

• En-suite facilities

• Bathroom access

• Wheelchair circulation

• Space for specialist equipment

• Privacy

• Proximity to communal areas

For residents with physical disabilities or complex needs, bathrooms may require adaptations such as level-access showers, specialist sanitary equipment or additional circulation space.

Communal areas should support independence

Communal space can be an important part of shared supported living.

Depending on the service, the property may require:

• Communal lounge

• Dining area

• Shared kitchen

• Activity room

• Quiet room

• Sensory space

• Laundry

• Garden

• Visitor space

The design should encourage independence rather than making residents unnecessarily dependent on staff.

For some schemes, individual residents may have their own kitchen and living facilities, with communal areas provided as an additional option.

Accessibility should be assessed early

Accessibility can significantly affect the suitability and cost of a supported living property.

Potential requirements include:

• Step-free access

• Wheelchair-accessible entrances

• Wide doorways

• Accessible bathrooms

• Appropriate lifts

• Suitable corridors

• Handrails

• Accessible kitchens

• Level garden access

• Accessible parking

If the property requires major structural alterations, the operator should obtain construction advice and cost estimates before committing to the acquisition.

Location matters for supported living

The right location should support both residents and the operating model.

Potential considerations include:

• Public transport

• Shops

• GP services

• Pharmacies

• Hospitals

• Community facilities

• Employment opportunities

• Education

• Leisure facilities

• Parks

• Local amenities

• Staff recruitment

• Parking

Local authorities are increasingly developing supported housing strategies to understand local supply, unmet need and future demand. England's 2026 statutory guidance specifically requires local authorities to consider the housing needs of people who require care or support to live independently.

For an operator, understanding local demand can therefore be just as important as finding a physically suitable building.

Find former care homes for supported living

Former care homes can provide an alternative route into the supported living market.

Depending on the building, a former care property may already contain:

• Bedrooms

• Bathrooms

• Communal rooms

• Kitchens

• Staff facilities

• Accessible entrances

• Lifts

• Gardens

• Parking

• Storage

However, the previous use does not automatically make the property suitable for supported living.

A former care home may have a layout designed around institutional care rather than independent living. Converting the building may therefore require substantial changes to create appropriate accommodation.

Find supported living property off-market

Some of the most suitable properties may not be openly advertised as supported living opportunities.

Specialist property sourcing can identify opportunities through:

• Private landlords

• Property investors

• Developers

• Care property owners

• Former operators

• Specialist agents

• Residential property owners

• Institutional property owners

Off-market sourcing can be particularly useful where an operator has a detailed requirement, such as a specific London borough, accessible accommodation, a minimum number of bedrooms or a property suitable for a particular resident group.

Buying supported living property

Operators and investors can consider purchasing a property rather than leasing.

Potential advantages can include:

• Greater control over the building

• Long-term asset ownership

• Ability to undertake substantial alterations

• Potential capital appreciation

• Greater control over lease arrangements

However, buying also requires significant capital and exposes the owner to property-related costs.

The financial assessment should consider:

• Purchase price

• Stamp Duty Land Tax

• Professional fees

• Refurbishment

• Financing

• Insurance

• Maintenance

• Planning

• Compliance

• Void periods

• Long-term operating arrangements

Leasing property to a supported living provider

Landlords may also consider leasing suitable property to an established supported living operator.

A lease structure should clearly establish responsibilities for:

• Repairs

• Maintenance

• Insurance

• Alterations

• Compliance

• Utilities

• Garden maintenance

• Specialist equipment

• Reinstatement

The landlord should also understand the proposed use before granting a lease.

For example, the property requirements and regulatory considerations can differ significantly between ordinary residential letting, supported living and accommodation connected with regulated care.

Supported living property investment

Investors can consider several strategies.

These may include:

• Buying an existing supported living property

• Acquiring a property for conversion

• Developing new supported living accommodation

• Leasing a property to an established operator

• Acquiring a former care property

• Developing accessible self-contained units

Government housing programmes currently recognise specialist and supported housing as an important category, including purpose-designed supported living and adapted accommodation for disabled people.

However, investors should assess the property, operator, lease and local demand together rather than relying solely on the existence of supported housing demand.

Due diligence before securing supported living property

Before purchasing or leasing a property, operators should consider obtaining:

• Title information

• Planning history

• Building survey

• Fire safety information

• EPC

• Asbestos information where applicable

• Electrical documentation

• Gas and heating records

• Accessibility assessment

• Drainage information

• Refurbishment estimates

• Previous use information

• Lease documentation

• Insurance requirements

• Regulatory advice where relevant

A specialist survey can identify issues that may not be obvious during a normal property viewing.

Find supported living property in London and the UK

Supported living opportunities can be found across London and regional UK markets.

Depending on the operator's requirements, the search may cover:

• London

• Greater London

• Birmingham

• Manchester

• Leeds

• Liverpool

• Nottingham

• Leicester

• Bristol

• Sheffield

• Regional towns

• Suburban locations

London operators may need to balance high property costs against accessibility, local demand, transport links and staffing.

In regional markets, larger properties and development opportunities may provide different economics.

Work with Fraser Bond to find supported living property

Finding suitable property for supported living requires a targeted search based on the operator's actual service requirements.

Fraser Bond can support supported living providers, landlords, investors and developers with property sourcing across London and the wider UK.

Support can include:

• Supported living property sourcing

• Property acquisition

• Property leasing

• Investment advice

• Planning coordination

• Refurbishment

• Building works

• Contractor coordination

• Property management

• Specialist care property consultancy

The property search can be built around the intended resident group, location, bedroom requirements, accessibility, budget, property type and purchase or lease strategy.

Find the right property for supported living

Finding property for supported living starts with understanding the people who will live there and the support model that will be delivered.

A suitable property may be a large house, bungalow, self-contained flat, former care home, purpose-designed scheme or another residenti