Young Adult Residential Care

Finding suitable property for young adults requiring residential care, specialist support and accommodation

Young adult residential care provides accommodation and care for young people who need ongoing support in a residential setting. Finding suitable property is an important part of establishing this type of service because the building needs to provide a safe home environment while allowing care providers to deliver appropriate support.

Young adults may require residential care because of learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, complex support needs or other circumstances requiring personal care. The appropriate property will depend on the needs of the residents and the type of service being provided.

In England, CQC defines a care home as a place where accommodation and personal care are provided together. Both the care and the premises are regulated. Residential homes and some mental health services fall within this category.

What is young adult residential care?

Young adult residential care combines accommodation with personal care and support in a residential setting.

Depending on the service, residents may receive assistance with:

• Personal care

• Daily routines

• Medication

• Meal preparation

• Household activities

• Community participation

• Appointments

• Social activities

• Developing independence

The level of support can vary considerably between residents. The property should therefore be capable of accommodating the specific needs of the people the provider intends to support.

Property requirements for young adult residential care

A suitable residential care property needs to provide enough private and communal space for residents and staff.

Potential requirements include:

• Individual bedrooms

• Suitable bathrooms

• Communal lounges

• Dining areas

• Appropriate kitchen facilities

• Staff office space

• Secure storage

• Accessible entrances

• Suitable internal circulation

• Outdoor space

• Good heating and ventilation

• Adequate electrical and plumbing systems

• Areas for activities and social interaction

The property's design should support privacy, dignity and independence wherever appropriate.

A large house can sometimes be adapted for residential care, but its bedroom count alone does not determine whether it is suitable. The layout, condition, accessibility and ability to provide appropriate communal facilities also need to be assessed.

Houses for young adult residential care

Large houses can provide a practical starting point for smaller residential care services.

Detached and semi-detached properties may offer multiple bedrooms, communal rooms, gardens and parking. These features can make them worth considering when sourcing specialist care property.

However, providers should investigate the building carefully before signing a lease or purchasing it.

Important considerations include:

• Number and size of bedrooms

• Number of bathrooms

• Communal space

• Kitchen capacity

• Accessibility

• Fire safety

• Heating

• Electrical systems

• Plumbing

• Garden and outdoor areas

• Staff facilities

• Potential for refurbishment

Older properties can be particularly challenging where they have narrow staircases, unusual layouts or limited bathroom provision.

Residential care for young adults with learning disabilities

Some young adults require residential care because of learning disabilities and associated support needs.

The property should provide an environment where residents can receive appropriate care while maintaining as much independence as possible.

Residents may benefit from having private bedrooms alongside communal areas where they can socialise, prepare meals and participate in everyday activities.

For services supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities, providers in England should also consider CQC's specific guidance when planning the service. CQC encourages providers to discuss their plans at an early stage to help determine whether the proposed service is suitable for the people it intends to support.

Residential care for young adults with autism

A young adult residential care property intended for autistic residents may require additional consideration of the physical environment.

Depending on individual needs, useful features can include:

• Quiet rooms

• Low-stimulation spaces

• Predictable internal layouts

• Private bedrooms

• Suitable communal areas

• Accessible bathrooms

• Secure outdoor areas where appropriate

• Appropriate lighting

• Space for individual activities

There is no single property design that works for every autistic person. The building should be assessed against the needs of the intended residents and the proposed care model.

Residential care for young adults with complex needs

Some young adults require a higher level of support because of physical disabilities, complex care needs or multiple support requirements.

In these cases, accessibility can become a major property consideration.

Depending on individual requirements, providers may need:

• Step-free access

• Accessible bathrooms

• Wider doorways

• Appropriate bedroom sizes

• Suitable circulation space

• Hoist-compatible rooms where required

• Accessible outdoor areas

• Parking for care and transport vehicles

The property's existing configuration should be assessed before committing to major refurbishment because some buildings may be difficult or expensive to adapt.

Location for young adult residential care

Location is an important part of selecting a residential care property.

Depending on residents' needs, providers may want convenient access to:

• GP surgeries

• Hospitals

• Specialist healthcare services

• Pharmacies

• Public transport

• Shops

• Parks

• Leisure facilities

• Colleges

• Employment opportunities

• Community facilities

A residential neighbourhood can help create a more conventional home environment, while good transport connections can make it easier for residents, staff and visitors to access the property.

For London operators, location also needs to be considered alongside property costs, availability and the potential for refurbishment.

CQC requirements for young adult residential care

Where the proposed service involves regulated activities in England, the provider generally needs to establish whether CQC registration is required before operating.

CQC states that providers must register if they plan to provide a regulated activity in England, and carrying out a regulated activity without registration is an offence. Applications require the provider to have its locations and staff ready, and CQC may refuse an application where premises are unsuitable.

CQC also considers the size, layout and design of premises when assessing care providers.

This makes it important to assess the property alongside the proposed service rather than treating the building as a separate investment decision.

Young adult residential care versus supported living

Residential care should not automatically be treated as the same as supported living.

In a care home, accommodation and personal care are provided together, and both the care and premises are regulated.

Supported living generally involves a person living in their own home while receiving care or support to promote independence. Individual supported living homes are generally not CQC locations where the accommodation is separate from the care arrangement.

The distinction can affect the property arrangement, regulatory requirements and how the service is operated.

Providers should establish the intended model before selecting a building because a property suitable for supported living may not necessarily be suitable for residential care.

Renting property to a young adult residential care provider

Landlords with larger residential properties may consider leasing them to specialist care operators.

Before entering into a lease, landlords should understand the proposed use and establish clear responsibilities for:

• Repairs

• Maintenance

• Insurance

• Refurbishment

• Alterations

• Compliance

• Utilities

• External areas

• Reinstatement

The lease should clearly establish the permitted use and specify which party is responsible for property-related obligations.

A specialist care tenant may also require alterations that would not normally be necessary for conventional residential letting.

Refurbishing property for young adult residential care

Some properties may require substantial refurbishment before they can be used for residential care.

Potential works include:

• Bathroom upgrades

• Kitchen improvements

• Accessibility modifications

• Fire safety works

• Electrical upgrades

• Heating improvements

• Internal reconfiguration

• Flooring and decoration

• Communal-area improvements

• Garden works

CQC's premises requirements mean that providers should consider whether the building is suitable for its intended purpose before committing to significant expenditure. CQC's premises standards require regulated premises to be clean, secure, suitable, properly maintained and appropriately located for their purpose.

Where planning permission or building regulations approval may apply, these matters should also be investigated before refurbishment begins.

Buying property for young adult residential care

Operators and investors considering purchasing property should assess the building from both a property and care-service perspective.

Key considerations include:

• Location

• Property size

• Layout

• Accessibility

• Existing use

• Planning position

• Refurbishment requirements

• Local demand

• Regulatory requirements

• Running costs

• Maintenance

• Potential operator demand

A property with a large number of bedrooms is not automatically a suitable care home. The building needs to support the proposed residents and service model.

Investment in young adult residential care property

Specialist residential care property can attract interest from investors because suitable buildings can be difficult to source.

However, investors should assess the underlying property as well as any proposed care arrangement.

Important considerations include the property's location, condition, refurbishment requirements, potential tenant demand, lease structure and long-term value.

The investment case should not rely solely on the assumption that specialist care use will generate a higher return. The operator, service model and property economics all need to be considered.

Finding property for young adult residential care

Care providers should prepare a detailed property specification before approaching landlords, agents or property consultants.

The brief can include:

• Preferred locations

• Number of residents

• Bedroom requirements

• Bathroom requirements

• Accessibility requirements

• Communal-space requirements

• Outdoor-space requirements

• Parking

• Staff facilities

• Budget

• Lease or purchase preference

• Refurbishment requirements

• Intended resident profile

A clear brief can help identify properties with genuine potential while reducing time spent assessing unsuitable buildings.

Fraser Bond for young adult residential care property

Fraser Bond can assist care providers, landlords and investors looking for young adult residential care property across London and the wider UK.

Services can include specialist property sourcing, acquisition and leasing support, refurbishment coordination, property management and wider property consultancy.

Whether you are a care provider looking for a suitable residential home, a landlord seeking a specialist tenant or an investor assessing a care property opportunity, the building should be evaluated according to the requirements of the intended service.

The right property can give young adults a safe and comfortable home while providing care operators with the practical environment required to deliver appropriate residential support.