Property for ABI Supported Living: Finding Suitable Acquired Brain Injury Accommodation

A practical guide for care providers, landlords, investors and developers looking for suitable property for acquired brain injury supported living across the UK

Finding the right property for ABI supported living requires more than identifying a house with enough bedrooms. The building needs to support the independence, accessibility, safety and day-to-day needs of people living with an acquired brain injury while giving support staff an appropriate environment to deliver care.

Acquired brain injury can affect mobility, memory, communication, cognition and behaviour in different ways. Some residents may need only limited assistance with everyday tasks, while others may require 24-hour support, accessible facilities and structured rehabilitation.

CQC examples show that ABI supported living can operate from properties containing individual bedrooms or flats alongside shared kitchens, lounges and gardens. One CQC-supported living service for people including those with acquired brain injury used separate housing and care agreements, with residents living in supported accommodation while receiving care and support.

What is property for ABI supported living?

Property for ABI supported living is accommodation designed or adapted so adults with acquired brain injury can live in their own home while receiving appropriate care or support.

Potential residents may have acquired brain injury following:

• Stroke

• Traumatic brain injury

• Brain haemorrhage

• Brain infection

• Brain tumour

• Lack of oxygen to the brain

• Other neurological injuries

The right property will depend on the level of independence residents are expected to have and the type of support the provider will deliver.

A property for someone progressing towards independent living may look very different from accommodation for residents requiring extensive mobility support.

ABI supported living versus an ABI care home

The intended housing and care arrangement should be established before acquiring or leasing a property.

CQC describes supported living as a model where a person lives in their own home and receives care or support to promote independence. The care is regulated by CQC, while the accommodation itself is generally not.

CQC also explains that individual supported living houses are generally not registered as care locations when residents' accommodation and care are genuinely separate. Where the accommodation contract is instead bound together with the provision of care or treatment, the regulatory position can be different.

This distinction is important for landlords, investors and providers converting residential property for specialist use.

What type of property works for ABI supported living?

Potential property types include:

• Detached houses

• Semi-detached houses

• Bungalows

• Self-contained flats

• Apartment schemes

• Small supported living developments

• Former care properties

• Purpose-built specialist accommodation

The most suitable option depends on the residents and support model.

A house may work well for a small shared supported living arrangement, while self-contained flats may be more appropriate for residents working towards greater independence.

Self-contained flats for ABI supported living

Self-contained flats can provide residents with greater privacy and control over their daily routines.

A suitable flat may include:

• Bedroom

• Living area

• Kitchen

• Bathroom

• Storage

• Accessible entrance

A group of flats within the same building can also allow support staff to operate a coordinated service while residents retain their own accommodation.

CQC examples demonstrate how specialist neurological services can use step-down flats to help people move from more intensive rehabilitation towards assisted or independent living. Summerfield Court, for example, had an annex containing three apartments designed to provide a more independent living environment.

Houses for ABI supported living

A house can be suitable where residents are comfortable sharing some facilities and the service is structured around a shared living environment.

Potential features include:

• Individual bedrooms

• Shared lounge

• Communal kitchen

• Dining area

• Accessible bathroom

• Garden

• Parking

• Staff workspace

However, the property should be inspected carefully. A conventional family house may have narrow doorways, multiple staircases, small bathrooms or limited circulation space that makes it difficult to adapt.

Accessible bedrooms

Bedrooms should be assessed according to the needs of the residents rather than simply the number of rooms available.

Depending on the individual, the bedroom may need space for:

• Wheelchair movement

• Walking aids

• Specialist furniture

• Transfer equipment

• Hoists

• Carer assistance

• Additional storage

Ground-floor bedrooms can be particularly useful for residents with significant mobility difficulties.

The provider should also consider whether residents can move from their bedrooms to bathrooms, kitchens and communal areas without unnecessary obstacles.

Accessible bathrooms and wet rooms

Bathroom accessibility can be one of the biggest considerations when assessing property for ABI supported living.

Potential requirements include:

• Level-access showers

• Wet rooms

• Accessible toilets

• Grab rails

• Wider doorways

• Wheelchair turning space

• Specialist bathing equipment

• Slip-resistant flooring

A property with only conventional family bathrooms may require substantial refurbishment.

Before agreeing a lease or purchase, providers should assess whether the existing plumbing, drainage and room dimensions can accommodate the necessary adaptations.

Kitchens and independent living

An accessible kitchen can be particularly valuable for ABI supported living.

Residents may be working towards greater independence with:

• Meal preparation

• Shopping

• Laundry

• Cleaning

• Household routines

• Managing personal belongings

Potential adaptations include:

• Accessible worktops

• Clear circulation routes

• Easy-access storage

• Suitable appliances

• Adjustable-height surfaces

• Accessible controls

CQC has documented ABI accommodation where residents had access to cooking and laundry facilities to develop independent living skills.

The kitchen can therefore form part of the rehabilitation and independence strategy.

Communal areas

Shared spaces can support social interaction and structured activities where the accommodation uses a shared-house model.

Potential areas include:

• Communal lounge

• Dining room

• Shared kitchen

• Activity room

• Quiet space

• Garden

The amount of communal space required depends on how independent residents are and how much time they are expected to spend in shared areas.

For schemes based around self-contained flats, communal facilities may be smaller or more limited.

Outdoor space

Accessible outdoor space can provide opportunities for recreation, social activities and mobility practice.

A suitable garden should be assessed for:

• Level access

• Pathway width

• Uneven surfaces

• Steps

• Gates

• Seating

• Safe boundaries

For ABI residents working towards greater independence, access to a local community can also be important.

Location for ABI supported living property

Location should be considered alongside the building itself.

Useful nearby facilities can include:

• GP practices

• Pharmacies

• Hospitals

• Rehabilitation services

• Shops

• Public transport

• Parks

• Community centres

• Employment opportunities

• Education and training facilities

A property that allows residents to access local amenities safely can support a more independent lifestyle.

For London providers, suitable properties can be particularly difficult to source because accessible homes with appropriate layouts are often limited.

Property for ABI rehabilitation and step-down support

Some providers use supported accommodation as part of a pathway from intensive rehabilitation towards independent living.

The property may therefore need to support residents as they develop skills such as:

• Cooking

• Cleaning

• Managing medication

• Using public transport

• Shopping

• Managing personal finances

• Socialising

• Maintaining a household

The accommodation should be appropriate for the stage of independence the provider intends to support.

A property designed for highly dependent residents may be unsuitable for a service whose primary objective is developing independent living skills.

Converting existing property for ABI supported living

An existing house or flat can sometimes be adapted for ABI supported living.

Potential refurbishment works include:

• Installing wet rooms

• Widening doorways

• Improving circulation

• Creating accessible bedrooms

• Modifying kitchens

• Installing ramps

• Adding handrails

• Improving external access

• Upgrading electrical systems

• Altering plumbing

• Improving fire safety

• Creating staff facilities

The feasibility of these changes should be established before committing to the property.

A property that requires extensive structural work may be less practical than another building that already has an accessible layout.

Purpose-built ABI supported living property

Purpose-built accommodation can make it easier to incorporate accessibility and independent living features from the outset.

CQC has described a purpose-built residential service for people with acquired brain injury where residents had individual units containing bedrooms, living areas and bathrooms, with some units also having kitchen areas. The building also included communal facilities and gardens.

For investors and developers, this illustrates how specialist accommodation can combine private living space with shared facilities.

Buying or leasing property for ABI supported living

Providers may purchase property themselves or lease from a landlord.

Before entering an agreement, important checks include:

• Existing planning position

• Building condition

• Accessibility

• Fire safety

• Electrical systems

• Gas systems

• Plumbing

• Structural condition

• Adaptation potential

• Refurbishment costs

• Repair responsibilities

• Insurance

• Lease restrictions

The provider should also establish whether the proposed housing arrangement is compatible with its intended care and support model.

What landlords should consider

Landlords leasing property to ABI supported living providers should understand how the property will be occupied and what adaptations may be required.

Potential works could include bathroom conversions, accessibility improvements, kitchen alterations and specialist equipment installation.

The lease should clearly address:

• Permitted use

• Adaptations

• Repairs

• Maintenance

• Compliance works

• Specialist installations

• Insurance

• External areas

• Reinstatement

Clear responsibilities can reduce disputes and provide greater certainty for both landlord and operator.

What investors should look for

Investors considering property for ABI supported living should assess the building as specialist housing rather than ordinary residential property.

Important considerations include:

• Location

• Property configuration

• Accessibility

• Bedroom sizes

• Bathroom provision

• Communal areas

• Conversion potential

• Planning position

• Refurbishment requirements

• Potential operator requirements

• Long-term suitability

The property's value to a specialist operator may depend heavily on how easily it can meet the needs of ABI residents.

Fraser Bond property for ABI supported living services

Fraser Bond supports UK property requirements across property sourcing, acquisition, leasing, refurbishment, construction, maintenance and property management.

For ABI supported living providers, this can include identifying suitable houses, flats and specialist buildings, assessing property potential, coordinating accessibility improvements and managing refurbishment or construction works.

For landlords and investors, Fraser Bond can assess existing properties and help identify practical improvements that may make them more suitable for an ABI supported living operator.

The right property for ABI supported living should provide residents with a genuine home environment while allowing appropriate support to be delivered safely and helping residents maintain or develop their independence.