Supported Living Accommodation for Care Providers - What Property Operators Should Look For

A practical guide to finding suitable supported living accommodation for care providers, covering property sourcing, location, planning, accessibility, fire safety, refurbishment, compliance and ongoing property management across the UK.

Care providers looking to establish or expand a supported living service need accommodation that works alongside their care and support model. Finding a property with enough bedrooms is only the starting point. The building must also be suitable for residents, practical for staff and capable of meeting the relevant housing, planning, safety and operational requirements.

Supported living is different from a traditional care home. Residents generally live in their own accommodation while receiving care or support, and the exact regulatory position depends on the services being provided. CQC explains that supported living arrangements can involve regulated care being delivered to people in their own homes, while the accommodation itself is not generally regulated by CQC as a care home.

For care providers, therefore, property selection should happen alongside service planning rather than as a separate exercise.

What Care Providers Should Look for in Supported Living Accommodation

The right property depends on the residents and level of support being provided.

Important considerations can include:

• Number and size of bedrooms

• Communal living space

• Bathroom provision

• Kitchen facilities

• Accessibility

• Fire safety

• Location

• Transport links

• Security

• Outdoor space

• Staff facilities

• Building condition

• Planning position

• Licensing requirements

• Potential refurbishment requirements

A property that is suitable for one supported living model may not work for another.

For example, accommodation for relatively independent adults may have different requirements from a service supporting people with significant mobility or care needs.

Start With the Needs of the People Being Supported

Before searching for accommodation, the care provider should establish what the residents need from the property.

Consider:

• How many people will live there?

• Do residents require accessible accommodation?

• Will anyone need a ground-floor bedroom?

• Will residents share bathrooms?

• What communal space is required?

• Will staff be present overnight?

• Is a staff office or sleep-in room required?

• How much independence can residents manage?

• Are there specific transport or community access requirements?

This information creates a practical property specification.

It also prevents providers from wasting time viewing properties that cannot realistically accommodate the intended residents.

Location Can Affect the Success of a Supported Living Service

A suitable location should support residents' independence and access to everyday services.

Care providers may look for properties near:

• Public transport

• Shops

• GP surgeries

• Pharmacies

• Healthcare facilities

• Community centres

• Employment

• Education

• Leisure facilities

• Parks

In London, access to local bus routes, Underground and Overground services can be particularly valuable.

For instance, a property in Croydon with convenient transport connections may provide residents with greater independence than a larger property in an isolated location.

The right location depends on the needs of the specific service.

Check Planning Before Taking the Property

Care providers should establish the planning position before signing a long-term lease or committing to major property works.

The relevant considerations can include:

• Existing use of the property

• Proposed supported living arrangement

• Number of residents

• Relationship between residents

• Level of support

• Staffing arrangements

• Whether personal care is provided

• Whether the arrangement may fall within an HMO classification

• Local planning policies

Planning treatment can vary according to how the accommodation operates.

London boroughs can also have different local requirements, making property-specific planning advice important.

A care provider should not assume that because another supported living service operates in a residential property, an identical arrangement will automatically be permitted at a different address.

Understand the Difference Between CQC and Property Requirements

CQC registration and property suitability are related but not identical issues.

Where a provider carries out a regulated activity, it may need to register with CQC. CQC states that providers must register before carrying on a regulated activity, and applications are assessed against the relevant registration requirements.

However, supported living accommodation is not simply the same thing as a registered care home.

CQC explains that in supported living arrangements, people have their own homes and receive care and support, with the accommodation generally treated separately from the regulated care service.

Care providers should therefore consider their regulatory responsibilities separately from the landlord's property responsibilities.

Assess Accessibility Before Signing a Lease

Accessibility can significantly affect whether a property is suitable.

Depending on residents' needs, providers may require:

• Step-free access

• Ramps

• Wider doorways

• Accessible bathrooms

• Ground-floor bedrooms

• Handrails

• Adapted kitchens

• Adequate circulation space

• Accessible parking

A property may be attractive commercially but unsuitable if adapting it would require disproportionate building works.

This is particularly relevant when looking at older London properties with narrow hallways, steep staircases or multiple floors.

Fire Safety Should Be Considered Early

Fire safety needs to be addressed during property assessment and refurbishment.

Potential considerations include:

• Fire alarms

• Fire doors

• Escape routes

• Emergency lighting

• Fire compartmentation

• Protected stairways

• Bedroom layouts

• Communal spaces

The appropriate requirements will depend on the property, residents and operating arrangements.

Supported housing guidance emphasises that accommodation should be safe and appropriate for residents, including suitable fire safety arrangements.

Care providers should obtain appropriate professional advice rather than relying on a generic checklist.

Check the Property's Existing Condition

Before signing an agreement, inspect the building carefully.

Areas to review include:

• Roof

• Structure

• Damp and mould

• Electrical systems

• Plumbing

• Heating

• Ventilation

• Windows

• Doors

• Kitchen

• Bathrooms

• Flooring

• External areas

A property that requires extensive refurbishment may still be viable, but the provider needs to understand the cost and timescale before committing.

This is particularly important where the provider is responsible for some or all of the refurbishment under the proposed lease.

Refurbishment May Be Needed

Supported living accommodation may require a range of improvements before residents move in.

Possible works include:

• Kitchen refurbishment

• Bathroom upgrades

• Electrical works

• Heating improvements

• Fire safety measures

• Accessibility adaptations

• Flooring

• Decoration

• Door upgrades

• Damp treatment

• General repairs

The refurbishment specification should be based on the needs of the service.

Fraser Bond can help landlords and care providers coordinate property refurbishment, building works, repairs and contractor requirements.

Communal Space Should Not Be Overlooked

Care providers should avoid focusing exclusively on bedroom numbers.

Residents may need comfortable communal areas for:

• Cooking

• Eating

• Socialising

• Relaxing

• Developing independent living skills

The kitchen can be particularly important for services designed to help residents develop greater independence.

A property with five bedrooms but inadequate communal space may be less practical than a four-bedroom property with a better layout.

Consider Staff Requirements

The level of staff presence can affect property selection.

Depending on the service model, staff may need:

• Office space

• Secure storage

• A suitable place for records

• Staff welfare facilities

• Overnight accommodation where applicable

These requirements should be established before agreeing the property specification.

Care providers should also distinguish between space needed for staff and space that should remain available to residents.

Check Licensing and Local Housing Requirements

Depending on the property and proposed use, the accommodation may be subject to local licensing requirements.

These could include:

• Mandatory HMO licensing

• Additional HMO licensing

• Selective licensing

• Local housing standards

The provider should check the requirements applying to the specific property and local authority.

Other matters such as building regulations, lease restrictions, insurance and mortgage conditions may also need consideration by the landlord.

Agree Property Responsibilities With the Landlord

Before signing a lease, the care provider should understand who is responsible for the physical property.

The agreement should clearly address matters such as:

• Routine repairs

• Emergency repairs

• Heating

• Plumbing

• Electrical maintenance

• Pest control

• Garden maintenance

• External repairs

• Compliance inspections

• Contractor access

• Refurbishment

• Reinstatement obligations

This can prevent disagreements after the service has started operating.

A care provider should not assume that the landlord will automatically handle every property issue.

What Information Should a Care Provider Request?

When considering supported living accommodation, ask the landlord or agent for information such as:

• Full property address

• Number of bedrooms

• Floor area

• Number of bathrooms

• Property type

• Current planning use

• HMO status where applicable

• EPC

• Accessibility features

• Parking

• Outdoor space

• Recent refurbishment

• Property condition

• Available certificates

• Proposed rent

• Lease terms

• Repair responsibilities

Having this information early makes it easier to determine whether the property is worth progressing.

Finding Supported Living Accommodation in London

London offers many residential properties that may potentially suit supported living, but the requirements of each service need to be considered individually.

A large house in Haringey may have the right number of bedrooms but require significant accessibility or fire safety works. A smaller property in Bromley may have fewer bedrooms but a layout that better suits a particular resident group.

The property should therefore be assessed against the service specification rather than simply selected because it is large or inexpensive.

Fraser Bond Can Help Care Providers Source Supported Living Accommodation

Fraser Bond works with property owners, landlords, investors and developers across London and the wider UK.

For care providers seeking supported living accommodation, Fraser Bond can assist with:

• Property sourcing

• Property sales and acquisitions

• Lettings

• Property management

• Refurbishment

• Building works

• Repairs and maintenance

• Compliance coordination

• Contractor sourcing and coordination

• Development consultancy

• Property upgrades

• Landlord support

This can help care providers focus on finding accommodation that works for their service while the property-related requirements are properly assessed and coordinated.

Where specialist CQC, planning, fire safety or legal advice is required, the relevant qualified professionals should be engaged.

Supported Living Accommodation Checklist for Care Providers

Before committing to a property, assess:

• Resident needs

• Service model

• Number of residents

• Bedroom configuration

• Communal areas

• Bathrooms

• Kitchen

• Accessibility

• Fire safety

• Planning

• Licensing

• Building condition

• Transport links

• Local amenities

• Security

• Staff facilities

• Refurbishment requirements

• Lease terms

• Repair responsibilities

• Ongoing property management

This assessment can help providers identify potential problems before signing a lease or starting refurbishment.

Arrange Supported Living Accommodation With the Right Property Support

The right supported living accommodation needs to function as a home for residents while supporting the operational requirements of the care provider.

Fraser Bond can assist care providers and property owners with sourcing, lettings, property assessment, refurbishment, building works, repairs, compliance coordination and ongoing property management across London and the UK.

If you are a care provider looking for supported living accommodation, speak with Fraser Bond about your property requirements before committing to a lease or refurbishment project.