Supported living is a general term that covers a diverse range of tenant groups. Tenants tend to fall into two main categories: Long-term and short-term support needs. With long term the tenant will potentially require support for life as their situation is unlikely to change. A tenant with shorter term needs requires a more temporary intervention of support before they're able to take on their own tenancy and live more independently. Here are the 12 most common groups:
Long term support needs
Shorter term support needs
As you can see the list is very wide ranging and the property needs are also broad. So what does each group need? It would make our lives so much simpler if we were able to give a standardised set of criteria for each, but sadly it isn’t that simple. As with anyone, needs will often be specific to the individual, they may want to live in a certain area to be near to friends and family, they may require specific adaptations to help them live more independently or may need to be near a hospital to access specialist services.
Although adaptations are needed for some people, others won’t need any at all. The other thing to be conscious of is that they're not exclusive of each other. You may have a care leaver who has a disability, or you may have a learning disability but also have mental health support needs so they crossover.
Support needs can also vary from a few hours a week, to really intensive 24 hour a day. Some people require two or three members of staff supporting them 24 hours a day, so facilities could be required onsite for the carers.
Different care or housing providers will also have different preferences covering pretty much every property type you can think of from bungalows to self-contained units, blocks of flats, and large houses.
Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
When Andy and Julie approached retirement age, they never imagined their property investment journey would lead them to make such a profound impact on the lives of vulnerable children. Their story is a testament to the power of education, persistence, and partnership in the world of supported living investments.
Read the article >
Securing finance for supported living properties can present unique challenges, but with the right approach and lender, it's not only possible but can be a rewarding investment.
Read the article >
When investing in supported living properties, one crucial aspect that investors often misunderstand is the type of agreement needed between the property owner and the registered provider, or direct with the supported living provider. Many assume that an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) is appropriate, but this is not the case.
Read the article >
We are often asked about the difference between supported and social housing, so we thought this article might help clarify a few things. In the UK, both supported living and social housing play crucial roles in providing accommodation for those in need. However, these two types of housing serve different purposes and cater to different groups of people.
Read the article >