What is supported housing?
Unlike traditional private tenancies, supported housing involves renting properties to organisations that provide accommodation in conjunction with various types of care. This arrangement can offer numerous benefits for landlords, such as guaranteed rent and fewer management responsibilities, while contributing to a positive social cause. Supported housing aims to ensure that everyone can have a secure and affordable home. It provides accommodation alongside care and support services for individuals who require assistance with daily living. These tenants typically face challenges such as:
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mental health conditions
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physical disabilities
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learning difficulties
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experience with the criminal justice system
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addiction issues
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domestic abuse issues
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young people leaving care with no support systems
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homelessness
Whilst supported housing is considered to be a type of social housing, it goes a step further. Social housing primarily provides affordable accommodation for people facing financial difficulties. Supported housing goes a step further by offering the support required to help tenants live independently or transition back into stable living environments.
What types of supported housing are there?
There are considered to be three categories of support housing. Whilst they are seen as separate, there is often an overlap between them. Under supported housing, there are:
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long-term arrangements – these are often provided to those with chronic or long-lasting physical or mental health issues
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short-term or transitional arrangements – these are often provided to people experiencing difficult circumstances due to domestic abuse or homelessness
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extra care or sheltered arrangements – these are generally provided to the elderly and others with special care needs
Tenants under supported housing arrangements might find themselves in either single occupancy units (ie studio flats or bungalows) or shared housing (ie where generally at least two or more tenants live in the same property), such as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
The key differences between housing types
As an overarching function, social housing is offered as an affordable housing option for households generally with lower incomes and is often managed by local authorities (eg council housing) or housing associations. It aims to provide tenants with lower rents, which are set by a formula linked to the property size and sale value and local income levels. Shelter suggests that the average weekly rent in England for social housing rentals is £89 in comparison to private rentals, which is typically around £196.
Standard social housing doesn’t provide the additional support that some vulnerable individuals may need to sustain a tenancy. Social housing is more fundamentally focused on affordability than care services.
The term ‘social housing’ covers a wide range of services provided in the public housing sector. However, under social housing there are different types of housing that aim to provide solutions for different social requirements, including:
Supported housing
Social housing as a whole captures a wide range of people who have lower incomes and are at one time unable to afford to rent a home in the private rental market but are in need of secure homes. Supported housing is a subcategory of social housing that also offers the provision of care, support, or supervision alongside accommodation.
This model is specifically focused on supporting individuals who require more attention than standard social housing tenants in order to maintain their independence. As noted above, this could include people recovering from mental health challenges, those with physical disabilities, the elderly or individuals experiencing homelessness.
Specialised supported housing (SSH)
SSH is a specific type of supported housing which offers tailored accommodation for individuals with high support needs and whose only alternative living arrangements would be a care home due to the level of ongoing care required. These properties are often adapted or designed with special modifications like wheelchair access, sensory equipment, or assistive technologies. SSH properties are usually exempt from traditional rent caps, as the costs of providing such specialised accommodation are higher.
Assisted living
While assisted living is often grouped with supported or sheltered housing, it is typically designed for elderly residents who require daily assistance with personal care, medication, and mobility. Assisted living properties offer a communal environment with on-site support staff, making them distinct from more independent models like SSH. Assisted living properties can help elderly individuals in need of care to maintain a level of independence which they would not have in a care home. Additionally, assisted living often has lower costs than residential care homes, which makes it a more attractive option.
Why would landlords want to provide supported housing?
For landlords, supported housing offers a unique opportunity to provide stable housing that contributes to social good. Additionally, renting to supported housing providers can offer landlords benefits like stable long-term tenancies, consistent rent payments, and reduced vacancy risks, as providers often take on tenancy management responsibilities. Unlike traditional private rental arrangements, a supported housing provider often serves as the point of contact for tenants, simplifying the landlord’s involvement in day-to-day issues.
Key takeaways
Supported housing combines accommodation with support services for vulnerable individuals, offering landlords a way to ensure both steady rental income and meaningful community impact. By understanding the differences between social housing, supported housing, specialised supported housing, and assisted living, landlords can make informed decisions about how to let their properties.
For information on renting out a property as social or supported housing, see Living Redefined’s guidance on letting property as social housing and make use of their free rent valuations. For any other residential property legal needs, take a look at Rocket Lawyer’s property documents and guides.
