Transition to Adulthood Supported Living - Property Requirements and Opportunities

Finding Suitable Property for Transition to Adulthood Supported Living

Transition to adulthood is an important stage for young people who need additional support with housing, daily living and independence. Suitable supported living can provide a stable home while helping residents develop the practical skills needed for adult life.

For property owners, landlords, investors and supported living providers, choosing the right accommodation is an important part of creating a successful transition service. The property needs to support independence while providing an environment that is safe, comfortable and appropriate for the needs of its residents.

Fraser Bond can assist providers, landlords and investors looking for suitable property for transition to adulthood supported living, including property sourcing, acquisition, leasing, refurbishment and ongoing property management.

What Is Transition to Adulthood Supported Living?

Transition to adulthood supported living generally refers to accommodation and support that helps a young person move from a more dependent living arrangement towards greater independence.

This can involve young people moving from:

• Children's social care

• Foster care

• A family home

• Residential accommodation

• Education or specialist college accommodation

• Hospital or rehabilitation settings

• Other supported accommodation

The aim is not simply to provide somewhere to live. The accommodation should help residents develop skills and confidence around everyday adult life.

Support may involve:

• Managing a tenancy

• Cooking and cleaning

• Managing money

• Education and training

• Employment

• Healthcare appointments

• Using public transport

• Maintaining a home

• Building relationships

• Participating in the community

In England, supported accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17 is specifically intended to help young people develop independence and prepare for adult life while remaining safe in a homely environment.

Property Requirements for Transition to Adulthood

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

Potential properties include:

• Terraced houses

• Semi-detached houses

• Detached houses

• Flats

• Self-contained apartments

• Shared houses

• Small supported housing schemes

• Purpose-designed specialist accommodation

The right option depends on the age, needs and independence of the intended residents.

A property assessment should consider the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, communal areas, accessibility, outdoor space, security, location and potential for future adaptations.

Creating an Environment That Encourages Independence

The property should allow young people to practise the skills they will eventually need to manage their own homes.

A suitable accommodation arrangement may include practical facilities such as:

• A functional kitchen

• Laundry facilities

• Private bedrooms

• Communal living areas

• Storage

• Individual bathrooms where appropriate

• Outdoor space

• Accessible facilities

• Areas for support sessions

For example, a properly equipped kitchen can give residents opportunities to learn cooking, meal planning, food shopping and household budgeting.

The property should support residents to do as much for themselves as is appropriate rather than creating unnecessary dependence on staff.

Shared or Self-Contained Supported Living?

Both shared and self-contained accommodation can form part of a transition-to-adulthood pathway.

Shared accommodation can provide communal facilities and opportunities for residents to develop social and household skills. It may also allow support to be organised efficiently.

Self-contained flats can provide greater privacy and may suit young people who are already capable of managing many aspects of daily life but still require some support.

In some cases, providers may operate several accommodation types so residents can move towards increasingly independent arrangements as their circumstances change.

Location for Transition to Adulthood Supported Living

Location is particularly important when the purpose of the service is to develop independence.

A suitable property may provide convenient access to:

• Public transport

• Colleges and universities

• Training providers

• Employment

• Shops

• Healthcare

• Leisure facilities

• Parks

• Community services

Young people may need to travel independently to education, work, appointments and social activities.

A property that is isolated from essential services can make this transition considerably more difficult.

Supported Living for Care Leavers

Care leavers are one of the groups that may require accommodation and support during the transition to adulthood.

Current England guidance requires local authorities to explain how they will help care-experienced young people secure safe, stable and suitable accommodation. Local authorities are also expected to anticipate future accommodation needs and work with housing authorities to help young people find and maintain suitable housing.

This means accommodation planning can form part of a wider pathway towards independent adulthood rather than being treated as a short-term housing solution.

Transition to Adulthood for Young People With Disabilities

Some young people may need supported living because of learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities or other additional needs.

The property may therefore need to accommodate:

• Accessible entrances

• Adapted bathrooms

• Appropriate bedroom layouts

• Safe circulation areas

• Specialist equipment

• Quiet spaces

• Secure outdoor areas

• Accessible kitchens

The required specification should be based on the actual needs of residents.

A property that works well for one group of young adults may require substantial adaptation for another.

Mental Health and Transition to Adulthood

Young people moving into adulthood may also require supported living because of mental health needs.

A suitable property should provide a stable residential environment while allowing residents to develop greater independence.

Location can be particularly important where residents need access to healthcare, education, employment and community services.

Where regulated care is provided to adults, the provider needs to establish the applicable CQC requirements. CQC describes supported living as arrangements where a person lives in their own home and receives care or support intended to promote independence. The care is regulated by CQC, while the accommodation itself is generally not regulated in the same way as a care home.

16 and 17 Year Olds - Important Regulatory Difference

Property owners need to establish the age group before agreeing to lease accommodation to a provider.

In England, supported accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17 is subject to the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and an Ofsted registration and inspection framework.

This is different from adult supported living.

A property being described commercially as "supported living" does not by itself determine which regulatory framework applies. The age of residents, type of service and nature of care or support need to be considered.

For landlords, this makes it important to understand the provider's intended use before completing a lease or approving property alterations.

Safety and Safeguarding

A transition-to-adulthood property should be assessed for both physical safety and the suitability of its surrounding environment.

Important considerations may include:

• Fire safety

• Electrical safety

• Gas safety

• Secure entrances

• Lighting

• Heating and ventilation

• Building condition

• Safe gardens and external areas

• Accessibility

• Maintenance arrangements

For young people who may be vulnerable, safeguarding should also form part of the accommodation assessment.

The current care-leaver guidance emphasises accommodation that is safe, stable and suitable and expects local authorities to consider vulnerabilities and individual housing needs when planning accommodation.

Refurbishing Property for Supported Living

Existing residential property can sometimes be adapted for transition-to-adulthood supported living.

Potential refurbishment works include:

• Bathroom adaptations

• Kitchen upgrades

• Fire safety improvements

• Electrical works

• Heating upgrades

• Accessibility improvements

• Internal reconfiguration

• Flooring

• Decoration

• Garden improvements

• Security upgrades

The refurbishment should be based on the intended resident group and service model.

Carrying out extensive work before establishing the provider's requirements can create unnecessary costs. A property assessment and clear accommodation specification should therefore come first.

Fraser Bond can coordinate refurbishment, contractor works and wider property improvements where a suitable building needs to be prepared for supported living use.

Renting Property to a Supported Living Provider

Landlords with suitable houses or flats may consider leasing them to an established supported living provider.

Before entering into an agreement, the landlord should understand:

• The provider's experience

• The intended age group

• The resident profile

• The proposed use

• Support arrangements

• Required alterations

• Repair responsibilities

• Maintenance arrangements

• Insurance requirements

• Lease length

• Responsibilities for compliance

A clear lease can help protect both the landlord and provider by establishing exactly how the property can be used and who is responsible for different aspects of its operation.

Buying Property for Transition to Adulthood Supported Living

Investors considering this type of property should assess more than the purchase price.

Relevant considerations include:

• Local demand

• Property location

• Purchase cost

• Refurbishment requirements

• Property layout

• Accessibility

• Provider strength

• Lease structure

• Maintenance costs

• Long-term suitability

Local accommodation needs are particularly relevant for care-experienced young people. Current government guidance expects local authorities to anticipate future accommodation needs and explain available housing options as part of their local offer.

The investment case should therefore be considered alongside the specific property, provider and local market rather than treating all supported living properties as the same.

Finding Transition to Adulthood Supported Living Property

Finding suitable property requires an understanding of both the accommodation and the people who will live there.

A successful property should provide an appropriate balance between independence, privacy, safety, support and access to the community.

Fraser Bond can assist supported living providers, landlords and investors with property sourcing, acquisition, leasing, refurbishment and property management.

For transition to adulthood supported living, choosing the right property from the beginning can help providers create a practical pathway towards independent living while giving landlords and investors a clearer understanding of the property's long-term use.