Rethinking Supported Living: When the Numbers Don’t Stack Up

This isn’t really a blog about dogs, but why a picture of a dog? Dogs matter to many people with disabilities or complex mental health issues, both practically and psychologically. For children facing the trauma of fleeing their home, changing school and sometimes area taking their family dog is crucial to maintaining emotional health. This is a real example of the kind of things charities and supported living providers will desperately try and accommodate. I hope this gives an insight into the practicalities of why some people really need family houses; is it at all possible that the PRS can contribute to this massive gap in provision?

Numbers are stacking for some small supported accommodation ‘HMO studios’, but what about houses…?

Let’s talk about supported living, specifically where overnight care is needed. This often applies to homes for people with complex needs or children in care. While the need is clear, making these projects work financially can feel impossible.
We recently explored financing options and were quoted a staggering 10.18% for a two-year fixed mortgage at 75% LTV, with an additional £8,000 product fee. A five-year fixed wasn’t much better at 9.96%. Add to that the challenges of navigating planning permissions for care homes, and it’s no wonder many developers, like us, hesitate.
Highly adapted “homes for life” raise questions around valuations and risk. The truth is, many developers see these projects as financially unworkable.

What’s frustrating is that even simple single-lets —rarely make financial sense compared to HMOs, simply because of how Local Housing Authority funding is structured. The current system makes it easier to profit from high-density living for single people with no special needs.

By the end of last year, we felt stuck. Our mission felt out of reach. But then I remembered something my favourite gym instructor yells during every class: “I wanna, I can, and I WILL!” So, at the start of 2025, we made a decision: we will find a way.
We’re now exploring a new path—one that doesn’t rely on traditional finance at all.
Our vision is to bring together like-minded individuals through private finance and joint ventures. We’ll build something purpose-driven with people who share our commitment to creating safe, long-term homes for those who need them most.

Have you found it difficult to make these numbers stack? Please reach out.