Young Adults Supported Living

Finding suitable property for young adults supported living services, care providers and specialist accommodation operators

Young adults supported living services provide accommodation and tailored support designed to help younger adults develop greater independence while receiving assistance appropriate to their individual needs.

For providers, finding the right property is an important part of establishing a successful supported living service. The building needs to provide a suitable home environment while also allowing staff to deliver support safely and effectively.

Supported living can be used for people with a range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, physical disabilities and other support requirements. In England, 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 may be regulated by CQC, while the accommodation itself is generally not.

What property is suitable for young adults supported living?

The right property depends on the number of residents, their individual needs and the model of support being provided.

Potential properties can include:

• Large residential houses

• Semi-detached and detached homes

• Shared houses

• Purpose-designed supported living accommodation

• Converted residential properties

• Flats and apartment developments

• Properties divided into individual self-contained units

The objective is to create a genuine home environment rather than an institutional setting.

A property with several bedrooms may be suitable for shared supported living, while a building containing self-contained flats may work better where residents require greater independence and privacy.

Property requirements for young adults supported living

Providers looking for young adults supported living property should consider more than the number of bedrooms.

Important features can include:

• Individual bedrooms

• Adequate bathrooms

• Communal living areas

• Kitchen and dining facilities

• Private outdoor space

• Suitable storage

• Accessible entrances

• Good natural lighting

• Appropriate heating and ventilation

• Safe internal circulation

• Staff workspace where required

• Space for activities and independent-living development

The property should also allow residents to carry out ordinary daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping and managing their personal routines, where appropriate.

Supporting independence through property design

The design of a supported living property can have a direct effect on how residents use the accommodation.

A young adult moving towards greater independence may benefit from having their own bedroom or self-contained living area while still having access to communal spaces and staff support.

The property may therefore need to balance privacy with opportunities for social interaction.

Features such as individual kitchens, shared lounges, gardens, accessible bathrooms and practical storage can all contribute to a more flexible living environment.

The specific needs of residents should determine the layout rather than attempting to apply the same design to every supported living service.

Location for young adults supported living

Location is particularly important when supporting young adults who are developing independent living skills.

A suitable property may need convenient access to:

• Public transport

• Shops and supermarkets

• Colleges and universities

• Employment opportunities

• GP surgeries

• Pharmacies

• Community facilities

• Parks and leisure facilities

• Social and recreational activities

Being close to everyday amenities can allow residents to practise travelling, shopping and managing daily responsibilities with an appropriate level of support.

For providers operating in London, properties in established residential neighbourhoods with good transport connections can be particularly useful, although affordability and local property availability need to be considered.

Houses for young adults supported living

Larger houses can provide an effective setting for smaller supported living schemes.

A typical property may contain several bedrooms, communal areas, a kitchen, bathrooms and an outdoor space. However, the number of bedrooms alone should not determine whether a property is suitable.

The provider should consider whether residents will have enough private space, whether communal areas are large enough and whether staff can support residents without unnecessarily restricting their independence.

Older houses may also require improvements to bathrooms, heating, electrics, accessibility or fire safety before they can be used effectively.

Young adults supported living and CQC

The regulatory arrangements depend on the services being provided.

CQC states that supported living involves people living in their own homes and receiving care or support to promote independence. Where regulated personal care is provided, the care provider may need CQC registration.

CQC's current location guidance also explains that individual homes where people live under supported living arrangements are generally not themselves CQC locations. Instead, the premises from which the provider coordinates and manages the regulated care may be the relevant location.

This distinction is important when a provider is assessing a property because supported living accommodation should not automatically be treated in the same way as a residential care home.

Supported living versus residential care

The contractual relationship between accommodation and care is an important distinction.

In supported living, residents generally have their own accommodation arrangements, with care and support provided separately. This can allow residents greater choice over their accommodation and care arrangements.

In a residential care home, accommodation and personal or nursing care may be provided together as a single package.

CQC guidance distinguishes these arrangements when determining which regulated activities apply.

Providers should establish the intended service model before committing to a property because the regulatory and operational requirements can differ.

Renting property to a young adults supported living provider

Landlords with suitable residential properties may consider leasing them to supported living operators.

A landlord should understand the proposed use before agreeing terms and establish clear responsibilities for:

• Repairs

• Maintenance

• Insurance

• Property alterations

• Refurbishment

• Compliance

• Utilities

• Gardens and external areas

• Reinstatement at the end of the lease

The lease should clearly define the permitted use and the responsibilities of both parties.

For landlords, working with an established provider can provide a specialist tenant for a property that may not be suited to conventional residential letting.

Property refurbishment for supported living

Some properties require relatively minor improvements, while others may need substantial refurbishment.

Potential works include:

• Bathroom upgrades

• Kitchen refurbishment

• Electrical improvements

• Heating upgrades

• Accessibility works

• Fire safety improvements

• Internal reconfiguration

• Flooring and decoration

• Garden improvements

• Installation of additional facilities

Before taking a long lease, the provider should understand the likely cost of adapting the property to the needs of its intended residents.

Where planning permission or building regulations approval may be relevant, these issues should also be addressed before substantial works begin.

Investment property for young adults supported living

Investors may consider specialist supported living property where there is demand from established operators.

However, the investment should be assessed based on the underlying property as well as the proposed supported living arrangement.

Important considerations include:

• Location

• Property value

• Local demand

• Property condition

• Refurbishment costs

• Potential rental income

• Lease structure

• Operator strength

• Maintenance obligations

• Long-term demand

A property should not be considered suitable simply because it is large enough to accommodate several people.

Finding property for young adults supported living

Providers should prepare a detailed property brief before searching.

This might specify:

• Preferred London boroughs or UK locations

• Number of residents

• Bedroom requirements

• Bathroom requirements

• Accessibility

• Communal space

• Garden or outdoor space

• Parking

• Budget

• Lease or purchase requirements

• Required refurbishment

• Target resident profile

A detailed brief makes it easier to identify properties that can realistically support the intended service.

Fraser Bond for young adults supported living property

Fraser Bond can assist landlords, investors and supported living operators looking for property suitable for young adults supported living 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 provider looking for a suitable house, a landlord seeking a supported living tenant or an investor assessing specialist accommodation, the property should be evaluated according to the needs of the proposed service.

The right supported living property can provide residents with a safe and comfortable home while giving operators the practical environment they need to support greater independence.