Properties Required for Supported Living Providers - What Providers and Landlords Should Know

Explore properties required for supported living providers, including suitable houses and flats, accessibility, location, planning, property condition, lease requirements and landlord considerations with Fraser Bond.

Properties required for supported living providers can range from individual houses and flats to larger properties designed or adapted to accommodate people who need support to live independently.

Unlike a traditional residential care home, supported living can involve people having their own accommodation while receiving care, support or supervision separately. The exact structure varies according to the provider, residents and service model.

For property owners, landlords and investors, this creates demand for buildings that are safe, suitable, accessible and capable of meeting the needs of the people who will live there.

Government guidance describes supported housing as accommodation provided alongside support, supervision or care to help people live as independently as possible in the community. It covers a wide range of groups and property models.

Fraser Bond can support property owners, investors and supported living providers with property sourcing, lettings, refurbishment, building works, property management, maintenance and wider property requirements.

What Properties Do Supported Living Providers Need?

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

Depending on the service, providers may look for:

• Terraced houses

• Semi-detached houses

• Detached houses

• Flats

• Bungalows

• Large residential properties

• Former care properties

• Specialist supported accommodation

• Purpose-designed supported living properties

• Properties requiring refurbishment

• Small portfolios of individual homes

The appropriate property depends on the needs of the residents and the support model.

A provider supporting people who can live relatively independently may require a very different building from one supporting residents with significant mobility or care needs.

Houses for Supported Living

Houses can be particularly practical for supported living because they can provide individual bedrooms alongside shared living areas.

Potentially useful features include:

• Multiple bedrooms

• Shared kitchen

• Communal lounge

• Several bathrooms

• Garden

• Parking

• Ground-floor accommodation

• Accessible entrance

• Good public transport

• Nearby shops and services

The number of residents should be considered alongside the property's size, layout and legal occupancy requirements.

A large house is not automatically suitable simply because it has several bedrooms.

Flats for Supported Living

Individual flats can also be suitable for some supported living arrangements.

They may provide residents with greater independence while allowing support to be coordinated around their needs.

A provider may consider:

• Ground-floor flats

• Accessible apartments

• Self-contained units

• Blocks containing several suitable flats

• Properties close to transport and amenities

• Purpose-built accessible accommodation

The building's communal areas, management arrangements, fire safety and accessibility should also be assessed.

Large Houses Can Create Supported Living Opportunities

Property owners with larger houses may have opportunities to lease them to supported living providers where the building fits the intended service.

Useful features can include:

• Multiple bedrooms

• Several bathrooms

• Communal living areas

• Large kitchen

• Garden

• Parking

• Flexible layout

• Ground-floor rooms

• Good transport links

However, owners should establish the provider's intended use before assuming that a property can be used for supported living.

The planning, housing and operational arrangements should be assessed for the specific proposal.

What Makes a Property Suitable for Supported Living?

Government guidance recommends that supported housing should be safe, comfortable, accessible and appropriate to residents' needs. It also recommends that accommodation complies with relevant building, fire, health and safety requirements.

Property owners and providers should therefore consider:

• Accessibility

• Property condition

• Bedroom sizes

• Bathrooms

• Communal space

• Privacy

• Storage

• Security

• Heating

• Hot water

• Electrical systems

• Fire safety

• Outdoor areas

• Transport links

• Local amenities

The exact requirements should be based on the residents the service is intended to support.

Accessibility Should Be Considered Early

Supported living properties may need to accommodate people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, older people or other support needs.

Potential features include:

• Step-free entrances

• Ramps

• Wider doors

• Accessible bathrooms

• Grab rails

• Ground-floor bedrooms

• Accessible kitchens

• Lifts

• Accessible parking

• Safe external paths

• Adaptable living spaces

Government supported housing guidance recommends that accommodation should be accessible and suitable for residents' health, care and support needs.

Providers should establish the specific adaptations required before agreeing a lease.

Bedroom Requirements

The number and configuration of bedrooms should reflect the service model.

Providers may consider:

• Number of bedrooms

• Bedroom size

• Ground-floor bedrooms

• Private bedrooms

• En-suite facilities

• Shared bathrooms

• Staff accommodation

• Resident privacy

• Storage

Government guidance recommends adequate bedrooms and states that unrelated adults should generally not be expected to share bedrooms except in emergency or short-term accommodation.

Operators should also assess whether the property provides enough space for residents to live comfortably rather than simply meeting a bedroom-count target.

Communal Areas Matter

Supported living is intended to help people live as independently as possible, but suitable shared space can still be important.

Depending on the service, properties may benefit from:

• Communal lounges

• Dining areas

• Shared kitchens

• Activity rooms

• Quiet spaces

• Meeting rooms

• Staff areas

• Outdoor space

Government guidance recommends appropriate living space and common areas such as community rooms where suitable.

The ideal balance between private and shared space depends on the residents and service.

Location Is Important for Supported Living

The location of a supported living property can affect residents' independence and quality of life.

Providers may look for properties close to:

• Public transport

• Shops

• GP surgeries

• Pharmacies

• Hospitals

• Community facilities

• Employment opportunities

• Education

• Parks

• Leisure facilities

• Places of worship

• Family networks

The right location depends on the needs of the residents.

A property that is physically excellent may still be unsuitable if residents cannot easily access essential services.

Planning and Supported Living

Supported living should not automatically be treated as a traditional care home.

The planning position depends on the nature of the proposed occupation, level of care or support, management arrangements and physical characteristics of the property.

Before acquiring or leasing a property, providers should establish:

• Existing lawful use

• Proposed use

• Planning history

• Previous use

• Number of residents

• Staffing arrangements

• Level of support

• Physical alterations

• Parking requirements

• Local planning policies

Planning advice should be obtained where the position is unclear.

Supported Living and CQC Registration

One of the most important distinctions is that supported living accommodation is not automatically a CQC location simply because care is provided to residents.

CQC's current guidance states that for supported living services, the CQC location is generally the premises from which the provider coordinates care across the places where supported people live. The individual homes where people live are not usually CQC locations.

There is an exception where an office within a supported living property is separate from residents' personal living space and is the only office from which the provider manages care in the area.

This distinction is important for landlords and providers.

A property should not automatically be marketed as a "CQC registered supported living property".

Instead, the provider should establish its own regulatory requirements based on the proposed service.

Accommodation and Care Can Be Structured Separately

Supported living arrangements can involve different organisations providing accommodation and support.

For example:

• A landlord owns the property

• A housing provider leases or manages it

• A support provider delivers support

• A care provider delivers regulated care where applicable

The exact structure varies.

Government guidance recognises that some organisations own supported housing, some provide support and some do both.

This means a property owner should understand who will occupy the property, who will provide support and who will be responsible for different aspects of property management.

Fire Safety and Supported Living

Fire safety needs to be considered based on the building and the residents' needs.

Important areas can include:

• Fire alarms

• Escape routes

• Fire doors

• Emergency lighting

• Fire extinguishers

• Compartmentation

• Emergency procedures

• Electrical safety

• Kitchen safety

• Accessible evacuation arrangements

Government supported housing guidance states that accommodation should comply with applicable fire and building safety requirements.

Where residents may have difficulty evacuating independently, the property's fire strategy should be assessed accordingly.

Property Condition and Maintenance

Supported living properties need to remain safe and well maintained throughout occupation.

Owners and providers should consider:

• Roof

• Damp

• Windows

• Doors

• Locks

• Heating

• Hot water

• Plumbing

• Electrical systems

• Appliances

• Lighting

• Flooring

• Garden

• External paths

Government guidance recommends that supported housing is well maintained, with amenities in working order and clear procedures for dealing with routine and emergency repairs.

Fraser Bond can assist with property repairs, maintenance coordination, building works and refurbishment where required.

Refurbishment for Supported Living

Some properties may need adaptation before a provider can occupy them.

Potential works include:

• Bathroom adaptations

• Kitchen upgrades

• Accessibility improvements

• Fire safety works

• Electrical upgrades

• Heating improvements

• Flooring

• Internal reconfiguration

• Security improvements

• External access works

• Garden improvements

The provider and landlord should establish who pays for the works before agreeing the lease.

Who Pays for Property Adaptations?

Several arrangements are possible.

The landlord may:

• Complete the works before letting

• Fund major refurbishment

• Provide a contribution towards adaptations

The supported living provider may:

• Fund specialist fit-out

• Install equipment

• Complete agreed non-structural alterations

Alternatively, both parties may share the costs.

The agreement should clearly establish ownership, maintenance and reinstatement responsibilities for tenant-funded improvements.

Long Term Leases for Supported Living

Supported living providers may prefer longer leases where they are investing in a property or establishing a long-term service.

Important lease terms include:

• Lease length

• Rent

• Rent review

• Deposit

• Rent-free period

• Repair obligations

• Insurance

• Service charges

• Alteration rights

• Assignment

• Subletting

• Planning responsibilities

• Maintenance

• Compliance obligations

• Break clauses

• Renewal arrangements

The lease should reflect the actual supported living arrangement.

Specialist legal advice should be obtained before signing.

What Supported Living Providers Should Ask Landlords

Before taking a property, providers can ask:

• What is the current lawful use?

• Has the property previously been used for supported accommodation?

• Are alterations permitted?

• Who pays for refurbishment?

• What repairs remain the landlord's responsibility?

• Are fire safety records available?

• Are electrical and gas certificates available?

• Is there an EPC?

• Are previous building control certificates available?

• Is parking available?

• Is the landlord willing to agree a long-term lease?

• Will the landlord permit accessibility adaptations?

These questions can prevent problems after the lease has started.

What Landlords Should Ask Supported Living Providers

Property owners should also conduct due diligence on the prospective provider.

Questions may include:

• What type of residents will occupy the property?

• What support will be provided?

• Will regulated care be delivered?

• Who will manage the accommodation?

• Who will manage support?

• Who will pay the rent?

• What is the proposed lease term?

• What adaptations are required?

• Who will fund the works?

• What experience does the provider have?

• Are there local commissioning arrangements?

• What maintenance responsibilities will the provider accept?

The landlord should understand the proposed operating model before entering into a long-term agreement.

Local Demand Should Be Investigated

Supported living should be planned around actual local need rather than simply finding a large property and trying to create a service around it.

Government guidance recommends that local authorities, providers and partners assess current and future supported housing needs and work together to plan provision.

Providers may therefore consider:

• Local housing strategies

• Adult social care needs

• Local commissioning priorities

• Existing supported housing supply

• Waiting lists

• Demographic changes

• Transport

• Local services

• Community integration

A property can be physically suitable but commercially difficult to operate if there is insufficient demand for the proposed service.

Supported Living for Different Resident Groups

Supported living can serve a wide range of people.

Government guidance identifies groups including:

• Older people

• People with learning disabilities

• People with physical disabilities

• Autistic people

• People experiencing homelessness

• People recovering from substance dependence

• Young people with support needs

• People with mental health needs

• People fleeing domestic abuse

The guidance also stresses that supported housing is diverse and that standards need to be applied with regard to the particular client group and scheme.

This means property requirements should always be developed around the intended residents.

Former Care Homes for Supported Living

Former care homes may sometimes be considered by supported living providers.

They can offer:

• Multiple bedroo