Supported living and tenancy rights — Easy Read

Your home and your care are different

Supported living involves living in your own home with support arranged separately from the housing. A landlord deals with the accommodation; a care provider supplies agreed care or support. The organisations may be connected, but their roles and agreements should be clear. A service called supported living should not simply operate as a care home under another name.

Find out your actual housing status

Ask for your tenancy or licence agreement, landlord’s name, rent and service-charge breakdown, and the support agreement. An adviser should check the real arrangement, not only its title. Tenancies and licences carry different rights, and not all supported housing uses the same tenancy type. Ask who signed each agreement and whether anyone signing for you had the necessary authority.

Check everyday control of your home

Discuss your keys, access, visitors, privacy, possessions, shared areas and reasonable household arrangements. Ask why staff need access and how visits are agreed. Restrictions should be individually justified and lawfully authorised where necessary, rather than imposed because staffing is convenient. Separate agreements are not enough if, in practice, staff control the home and people cannot exercise meaningful choice.

Ask to change support without moving

Explain what is not working and whether you want different staff, a revised plan or a new provider. Ask for a care-plan review and compare possible providers. State clearly that you want to keep your home. CQC guidance identifies genuine choice of care provider as important to supported living. Changing care should not automatically be treated as surrendering your housing rights.

Understand the practical and legal limits

There is no unconditional right to insist on any provider while keeping any particular property. Funding arrangements, shared staffing, available providers and the actual housing contract can affect options. Ask which specific legal or practical barrier is relied on and whether it can be addressed. A statement that housing and care are “one package” deserves scrutiny; it does not settle your rights.

Discuss how support will be commissioned

If the council funds support, request involvement in the review and ask about a direct payment, individual arrangement or other suitable way to manage the budget. Shared support should still meet your individual needs. If the NHS funds care, ask the responsible team about its review process and personal health budget options. Seek reasons if an alternative is rejected, rather than assuming every request must be agreed.

Plan a safe handover

Before ending an agreement, identify who will provide care next, the start date, funding and any notice requirements. Agree transfer of necessary information with appropriate consent or another lawful basis. Include medication, communication, equipment, overnight needs and emergencies. Ask the commissioner for a contingency plan if the provider withdraws. Do not leave yourself without essential support while the dispute is being resolved.

Know that eviction rules have changed

From 1 May 2026, most private assured tenancies moved to the Renters’ Rights Act system. Different rules and implementation dates apply to social housing and other arrangements. Some supported-accommodation possession grounds can apply where detailed conditions are met, including changes affecting support or suitability. Your agreement, landlord and any transitional rules need checking; do not assume a general rule gives permanent security.

Get advice immediately about a notice

A care provider saying you must leave does not by itself settle whether a tenancy has lawfully ended. Most residential tenants have notice and court-process protections, but some licences differ. Do not ignore a notice, court papers or threatened lockout. Obtain housing advice before signing a surrender or moving out. The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service offers free advice from written notice of threatened possession, regardless of finances.

Use housing and care complaint routes

Raise care concerns with the provider and council or NHS commissioner. CQC can use information about regulated care but does not decide your tenancy dispute or resolve an individual complaint for you. Housing concerns may require the landlord’s complaints process, an appropriate housing ombudsman or a solicitor. Keep copies and dates. The adult social care Ombudsman is a separate route for relevant social care failures.

Keep your wishes central

Ask for accessible explanations and independent advocacy where you qualify. If capacity is in question, assess the particular decision and provide support; family or staff cannot simply sign away your home because they think a move is best. Separate welfare, funding and property powers may be involved. Raise threats, neglect or coercion through safeguarding, and get urgent legal help if your home or essential care is at immediate risk.

Your home and your support in supported living

Your housing and care agreements

Ask for changes to your support

Plan a change of provider

Get help if your home is at risk

What you can do next

More useful links

Supported living: keeping your home and changing your support