Supported Living Companies Looking for Landlords - How Property Owners Can Attract Operators

Learn how to attract supported living companies looking for landlords, including property requirements, lease terms, planning, provider checks, adaptations, rent and Fraser Bond support.

Property owners searching for supported living companies looking for landlords may have an opportunity to secure a professional tenant for a house, bungalow or other suitable residential property.

Supported living providers can require properties for people who need support to live independently. The accommodation itself is generally separate from the regulated care service, although the exact arrangement depends on how the service operates. CQC states that supported living involves people living in their own homes while receiving care or support, with the care regulated by CQC but the accommodation generally not being regulated by CQC.

For landlords, this means the property needs to be assessed on its own merits as well as against the operator's specific requirements.

Why Supported Living Companies Need Landlords

Supported living operators may need additional properties when expanding an existing service, establishing a new service or responding to local demand.

Government guidance published in 2026 requires councils in England to develop local supported housing strategies that consider existing supply, unmet need and future demand.

Depending on the provider, a company may be looking for:

• Houses

• Bungalows

• Flats

• Larger residential properties

• Accessible accommodation

• Properties requiring adaptation

• Former care properties

• Development opportunities

• Properties in established residential areas

The ideal property will depend on the people the provider supports and the operational model it intends to deliver.

What Properties Are Supported Living Companies Looking For?

There is no universal supported living property specification.

One provider may need a three-bedroom house for a small service, while another may require a larger property with several bedrooms and substantial communal space.

Important factors can include:

Location

Providers may look for properties close to:

• Shops

• GP surgeries

• Pharmacies

• Hospitals

• Public transport

• Community facilities

• Parks

• Employment opportunities

• Education facilities where appropriate

The right location depends on the needs of the intended residents.

Property Layout

Operators may assess:

• Number of bedrooms

• Bedroom sizes

• Bathroom facilities

• Communal areas

• Kitchen size

• Hallways

• Storage

• Garden

• Parking

• Ground-floor accommodation

A property does not necessarily have to be perfect when first presented. Some providers will consider properties that can be adapted.

Accessibility

Accessibility may be particularly important for people with physical disabilities or mobility requirements.

Potential requirements can include:

• Level access

• Accessible bathrooms

• Wider doorways

• Ground-floor bedrooms

• Space for mobility equipment

• Accessible parking

• Suitable circulation space

• Potential for ramps or other adaptations

Supported Living Is Different From a Care Home

Landlords should understand this distinction before marketing their property.

CQC guidance states that individual homes where people live under a supported living scheme are generally not CQC locations. Instead, the premises from which a provider organises or manages regulated care delivered to people in their own homes may be the relevant CQC location.

This means a landlord should not automatically describe a property as a "CQC-approved supported living property".

The provider's regulatory responsibilities and the property's housing arrangements should be considered separately.

Do Supported Living Companies Need CQC Registration?

This depends on the services being provided.

CQC regulates the care and support activities that fall within its regulated activities. For supported living services, CQC describes the regulated element as care provided to people in their own homes, rather than the accommodation itself.

Providers applying to CQC for supported living services may also need to provide additional documentation. Current CQC guidance includes items such as a business plan and financial forecast, evidence of legal occupancy, service user guides and staff training plans for relevant new applications.

For a landlord, this makes it important to establish what the prospective operator actually intends to provide from the property.

Check the Planning Position

Before agreeing to lease a property to a supported living company, establish the planning position.

The proposed use, number of occupants, level of support and existing lawful use of the property can all be relevant.

Check:

• Existing planning use

• Planning history

• Any planning conditions

• Local planning policies

• Article 4 directions where relevant

• Proposed occupancy

• Required alterations

• Building regulations

• Accessibility requirements

Do not assume that a property can automatically be used for any supported living arrangement simply because it is currently a residential house.

Where there is uncertainty, obtain professional planning advice before committing to significant expenditure.

What Do Supported Living Companies Look for in a Lease?

The lease can be as important as the property itself.

A provider may be looking for a longer-term arrangement because setting up a supported living service can involve expenditure on staffing, adaptations, equipment and operational preparation.

Lease negotiations may cover:

• Lease length

• Rent

• Rent reviews

• Deposit

• Break clauses

• Repair responsibilities

• Maintenance

• Insurance

• Utilities

• Alterations

• Adaptations

• Assignment

• Subletting

• Permitted use

• Reinstatement

• Renewal options

Landlords should have the proposed agreement reviewed by an experienced property solicitor.

Should Landlords Offer Long-Term Leases?

Some supported living operators may seek longer leases because they need certainty when establishing a service.

A longer lease can potentially provide the landlord with a stable contractual arrangement while giving the operator greater security.

However, landlords should consider the complete lease rather than focusing only on its duration.

Pay particular attention to:

• Rent review provisions

• Tenant financial strength

• Guarantor requirements

• Repair obligations

• Assignment rights

• Break clauses

• Deposit

• Insurance

• Adaptation responsibilities

• Exit arrangements

A long lease should have clearly defined responsibilities for both parties.

Who Pays for Property Adaptations?

A supported living provider may identify adaptations needed before residents can occupy the property.

These could include:

• Accessible bathrooms

• Wet rooms

• Ramps

• Grab rails

• Door alterations

• Improved lighting

• Fire safety improvements

• Specialist equipment

• Kitchen modifications

• Additional security measures

The landlord and operator should agree who pays for the work before the lease is completed.

Where the landlord is funding refurbishment, obtain detailed specifications and contractor quotations.

Where the operator is funding the work, the lease should establish what alterations are permitted and what happens to them when the tenancy or lease ends.

How to Check a Supported Living Company

Finding an operator interested in your property does not mean you should immediately sign the lease.

Carry out appropriate due diligence.

Consider checking:

• Companies House information

• Trading history

• Financial position

• Existing properties

• Landlord references

• Insurance

• Management structure

• Relevant CQC registration

• CQC inspection information where applicable

• Proposed service

• Funding arrangements

CQC publishes information about registered providers and their regulated activities, making it possible to verify relevant registration information where CQC regulation applies.

The provider's regulatory position should form part of your wider due diligence rather than being treated as the only indicator of financial or operational strength.

Prepare a Property Information Pack

If you want to attract supported living companies looking for landlords, make it easy for operators to assess the property.

Prepare information including:

• Full address

• Number of bedrooms

• Floor plan

• Room dimensions

• Photographs

• Garden details

• Parking

• Accessibility

• EPC

• Planning information

• Property condition

• Recent refurbishment

• Availability date

• Asking rent

• Lease expectations

• Existing certificates

A detailed property pack can help an operator determine quickly whether the property matches its requirements.

What Should Landlords Ask Supported Living Companies?

Before agreeing to a lease, ask the provider:

1. Who will live in the property?

2. How many residents are expected?

3. What type of support will be provided?

4. Will staff be present overnight?

5. Who will hold the residents' accommodation agreements?

6. Does the service involve CQC-regulated activity?

7. Does the provider have the relevant registration?

8. What planning position does the provider require?

9. What adaptations are needed?

10. Who will pay for the adaptations?

11. What lease length is required?

12. What rent can the company offer?

13. Who is responsible for repairs?

14. Will the provider require subletting or resident occupation arrangements?

15. What happens if the service closes?

These questions can reveal whether the operator's requirements are compatible with your property.

What Rent Can a Supported Living Company Pay?

There is no single rent level for supported living properties.

The amount will depend on factors such as:

• Location

• Property size

• Condition

• Number of bedrooms

• Accessibility

• Lease length

• Required adaptations

• Local demand

• Operator finances

• Intended service model

Landlords should compare the proposed rent with the property's market value and the costs they are expected to absorb.

A higher headline rent is not necessarily more attractive if the landlord is taking on substantial refurbishment, maintenance or contractual risk.

Supported Living and Housing Costs

Supported housing can involve different funding arrangements, including circumstances where residents receive Housing Benefit or other housing-related support.

Government guidance recognises supported housing as accommodation where residents receive care, support and/or supervision to help them live as independently as possible. It also recognises a range of provider types, including housing associations, charities and private landlords.

Landlords should not assume that a provider's proposed rent will automatically be covered by public funding. The operator should explain its funding model and demonstrate how the proposed lease is intended to work financially.

How Fraser Bond Can Help Landlords

If you have a property and want to connect with supported living companies looking for landlords, Fraser Bond can support the wider property process.

Depending on the project, Fraser Bond can assist with:

• Property sourcing

• Landlord advisory

• Property acquisition

• Lettings

• Property management

• Investment advisory

• Development consultancy

• Refurbishment planning

• Building works

• Contractor coordination

• Repairs

• Maintenance

• Compliance support

Fraser Bond can also help landlords assess whether refurbishment or property improvements could make a house more suitable for professional supported living operators.

Legal, planning, tax and regulatory matters should be confirmed with the appropriate specialist advisers.

How to Make Your Property More Attractive to Supported Living Operators

If you want to attract providers, start by making the property easy to evaluate.

1. Assess the Property

Review its condition, location, layout, accessibility and potential use.

2. Check the Planning Position

Establish the current lawful use and identify any potential planning issues.

3. Identify Suitable Operators

Target providers whose service requirements match the property's characteristics.

4. Prepare Property Information

Create a professional property pack with photographs, floor plans, measurements and relevant documentation.

5. Discuss the Proposed Service

Ask the operator how the property will be used and who will occupy it.

6. Negotiate the Lease

Agree rent, lease length, repairs, adaptations, insurance and other responsibilities.

7. Carry Out Due Diligence

Check the operator's financial position, experience and relevant regulatory status.

8. Obtain Professional Advice

Have the lease and any planning or regulatory questions reviewed before completion.

What Makes a Good Supported Living Property?

There is no universal formula, but a property may be more attractive where it offers:

• Suitable bedrooms

• Good communal space

• Convenient location

• Accessible features

• Parking

• Outdoor space

• Good condition

• Potential for adaptations

• Clear planning position

• Reliable local amenities

• A commercially realistic lease structure

The requirements should ultimately be matched to the needs of the intended residents and the operator's service model.

Supported Living Companies Looking for Landlords - What Property Owners Should Know

Property owners who want to work with supported living companies should assess the opportunity as both a property transaction and an operational arrangement.

The property needs to suit the provider's requirements, while the provider needs to be capable of meeting its contractual and operational obligations.

Landlords should therefore investigate:

• Property suitability

• Planning

• Lease structure

• Rent

• Adaptations

• Repairs

• Operator finances

• Regulatory requirements

• Resident occupation arrangements

• Exit provisions

Taking professional advice before signing can help establish clear responsibilities and reduce the risk of future disputes.

Find Supported Living Companies Looking for Landlords With Fraser Bond

If you own a house, bungalow, former care property or another suitable building, Fraser Bond can support you through the process of preparing and positioning the property for potential supported living operators.

From property sourcing and lettings to refurbishment, building works, property management, maintenance and development consultancy, Fraser Bond can assist with the wider property requirements.

If you are looking for supported living companies looking for landlords, speak with Fraser Bond about your property and the type of operator you want to attract.