Accommodation Models in Supported Living: What Works and Why Commissioners Care

Accommodation is more than a building in Supported Living — it is a foundation for stability, independence and progression. Commissioners increasingly scrutinise the accommodation model as closely as the support model. For related content, explore Supported Living and Transforming Care.

Why Accommodation Models Matter

The right model influences:

  • People’s independence and choice.
  • Transitions from hospital or residential settings.
  • Compatibility and long-term placement stability.
  • Value for money and reduction of 24/7 reliance.

Common Supported Living Accommodation Models

1. Dispersed Tenancies

Individual flats or houses in the community. Benefits include:

  • Strong independence and community integration.
  • Reduced pressure on MDT and safeguarding teams.
  • Lower compatibility risks.

Best for: people building independence or transitioning from residential care.

2. Clustered Housing Models

Several individual flats within one building, with access to shared support spaces.

  • Allows rapid staff response.
  • Enables PBS oversight and MDT access.
  • Good for step-down or higher-need cohorts.

3. Shared Housing

Less favoured by commissioners but still viable in some areas. Key requirements:

  • Strong compatibility assessments.
  • Clear co-production around house routines.
  • Risk management plans to avoid peer conflict.

4. Specialised Accommodation for Complex Needs

This includes purpose-built environments for people with:

  • High sensory needs.
  • Behaviours of concern requiring environmental adaptions.
  • Mobility or health-related accessibility needs.

What Commissioners Expect

  • Robust accommodation partnerships with landlords or RPs.
  • Clear separation of tenancy and support.
  • Rapid void-management processes.
  • Evidence of working with housing to sustain tenancies.
  • Demonstrating how the accommodation enables outcomes, not restricts them.

How to Evidence Your Accommodation Model in Tenders

  • Describe matching and compatibility processes.
  • Show how you work with housing providers to prevent evictions.
  • Provide examples of adaptations that improved outcomes.
  • Explain why your accommodation model fits the local population.

Accommodation models are a determining factor in placement success. Providers who can articulate their model clearly — and evidence its impact — gain a strong advantage in Supported Living tenders.

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Written by Impact Guru, editorial oversight by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — bringing extensive experience in health and social care tenders, commissioning and strategy.

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