Information for Landlords

EHSL was established in 2012 and is a Registered Charity (1211218) that provides supported housing. As of 2025, we work with over 50 local authorities and a range of local and national care providers to provide supported housing services for over 600 people with various support needs, including learning disability, autism, physical disability, acquired brain injury and mental illness.

Supported Housing is a type of housing for people who need support to live independently. Tenants in supported housing are provided with care, support and supervision which is funded by local authorities, provided by registered care providers, and where applicable, regulated by the Care Quality Commission. EHSL charges rent to its tenants, which is generally funded via Housing Benefit under rules relating to supported housing. Rents will only be covered by Housing Benefit where the local authority agrees that the rent is at a reasonable level for the accommodation provided, and that the support provided by EHSL is at a more than minimal level.

Supported Housing provides accommodation to people who have a learning disability or another need for support, but for whom a care home would be inappropriate because the level of care provided would be much higher than is needed. Tenants in supported housing are provided with support to live independently, typically consisting of help with cooking, cleaning, budgeting, shopping, accessing employment, education and socialisation opportunities, and managing correspondence and finances.

• Rents are paid directly by EHSL under a corporate lease.
• Rent is paid regardless of occupancy.
• EHSL provides the day to day management of the property.
• Longer term arrangements of 5+ years provide stability to landlords.
• EHSL manages all incoming repairs and maintenance to ensure that the only repairs referred to the landlord are those that the landlord is responsible for under the terms of the agreement.
• Tenants are provided with a high level of support to ensure that they adhere to the terms of their tenancy agreement.
• EHSL will ensure that the property is returned in same condition it was at the start of the tenancy, fair wear and tear excluded

EHSL’s focus is on securing properties that are suitable to accommodate multiple people, throughout Southern England and the Midlands.

Of particular interest are:

• Buildings containing 6 or more self-contained flats, which are accessible to transport routes and local services.
• Licensable HMOs
• Bungalows and detached properties suitable for single occupants.
• Vacant care homes and commercial buildings which can be converted into multiple self-contained units.

EHSL is happy to work with landlords who wish to purchase or develop property specifically to lease to EHSL.

EHSL requires the following information to consider a property:

• Asking rent
• Floorplan
• Intended lease length.

We will then be able to review the opportunity with our partners and assess viability. If there is interest, we will arrange a viewing of the property and then seek to agree heads of terms.

We then agree contractual terms with a care provider, and obtain support from the local authority, and commissioning body (i.e. The NHS or Adult Social Care Team).

Once this is in place we can enter a lease.

Each lease typically runs for an initial period of 5 years with a renewal available at expiry, although in some cases EHSL has been able to agree longer terms. We recognise that flexibility is often required so we try to understand the landlord’s longer-term intentions prior to entering into a lease.

EHSL pays the rent monthly to the landlord’s chosen bank account, via standing order. EHSL collects rent from its own tenants which covers EHSL’s costs, which includes the rent payable to the head landlord and the cost of the services provided by EHSL. Most of EHSL’s tenants are eligible to claim Housing Benefit, which we support them to do in order that they can cover their rent.. We liaise closely with Housing Benefit departments to ensure that the rent we charge to our tenants is covered sufficiently by each tenant’s Housing Benefit entitlement.

EHSL pays a rent that is reflective of rents charged locally for the same size and type of accommodation. To calculate a rent we will make comparisons to local rental data including the Office for National Statistics, the Regulator’s Statistical Data Return, local rental knowledge, and red book valuations. Rents may be revised periodically to reflect changing market conditions, and are otherwise reviewed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Supported Housing can be offered in properties that would otherwise be let in the private sector to single tenants, families, or groups of sharers. In these cases, major adaptations are not generally required. In some cases, a tenant may need minor adaptations such as grab-rails in the bathroom, or a ramp or handrail to the front door. EHSL will ask for permission to make adaptations if they are required.

Properties tend to require adaptations to ensure fire safety for its tenant(s), usually in the form of fire doors, more comprehensive fire alarm coverage, emergency lighting, Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMVs) and the installation of thumb turn locks that allow the property to be exited without a key. A fire risk assessment is prepared and reviewed annually, and alarms and emergency lighting are serviced by engineers in line with manufacturers guidelines.

EHSL generally enters into leases where the landlord’s repairing obligations are limited to the fabric, structure and exterior of the property. To do so, the property must be in a suitable condition from commencement of the lease and we typically only take properties which have been recently converted or refurbished and which will meet the Decent Homes Standard throughout the life of the lease.

Landlords are required to repair for pre-existing defects and repairs arising from insured risks.

EHSL delivers maintenance through a team of in-house maintenance operatives, also using approved contractors depending on the location and type of work.

Where works are identified that are the responsibility of the property owner, EHSL’s team will liaise with the landlord to ensure that the works are completed in a timely manner.

In emergency situations such as a water leak, loss of power, or heating breakdown, EHSL’s 24/7 emergency maintenance contractor will be arranged to attend to make safe and manage the situation. They generally attend within 4 hours.

Planning permission is not generally required, although some local authorities have implemented Article 4 Directions which remove permitted development rights in defined areas. In these instances planning permission may be required for accommodation which is moving from the C3 use class (Residential dwellings) into the C4 (Houses in Multiple Occupation) or Sui Generis classes.

The C3(b) use class allows up to 6 people to live together as a single household and receive care, and there are permitted development rights to change the use of a dwelling between the C3 and C3(b) use classes.

EHSL will establish whether planning permission is required and make an application to the local authority if required.

The law surrounding the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) changed in October 2018, resulting in licenses now being required for properties accommodating 5 or more people.

A number of local authorities have also introduced selective and additional licensing schemes which require a license to be applied for in other circumstances – typically for houses in multiple occupation which accommodate fewer than 5 people, or for other private lets.

EHSL will apply for a license where one is required. The property must meet the relevant licencing standards prior to the lease commencing.

Properties must meet current fire safety regulations and the exact nature of works will depend on the property. Generally, they will require a fire alarm system, fire doors, emergency lighting and fire fighting equipment.

EHSL requires the property to be handed over with the following valid certifications:

• Gas Safety Certificate
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Electrical Installation Condition Report
• Fire Alarm installation certificate or recent servicing
• Legionella Risk Assessment

Properties must be free from asbestos and this may be evidenced via an Asbestos Survey

EHSL will notify the landlord of any other issues that require remedial works. Any furniture provided must comply with the Furniture Regulations 1998.

EHSL can arrange these safety inspections on your behalf if you wish. Other risks are assessed when the property is being secured in order that they can be addressed prior to tenants moving in.

• EHSL secured a 5-year lease on a property in Hertfordshire and adapted it to be able to offer 4 large double bedrooms to people who require 24/7 care.
• EHSL was approached by a local authority because a care home was being closed down. Due to mobility issues, the occupants required a bungalow. EHSL identified a suitable property and entered into a three-year lease.
• EHSL worked with Slough Borough Council to develop a new mental health scheme for 10 people in a purpose built property, under a nominations agreement between EHSL and the authority.
•  EHSL took on a portfolio of 9 properties which were leased to a care provider, ensured that they were fire compliant and adequately funded through the rents, and introduced new leases with each head landlord in order to establish separation between the provision of housing and care.
• EHSL leased a property in Bedfordshire containing 30 flats, that had previously been an office building. EHSL and the care provider worked together to put in place an intensive housing management scheme that provided value for money and allowed the care provider to focus on care provision for the tenants.
• EHSL entered a long lease on a purpose built block of flats in Worcestershire, which had been developed in partnership with a care provider and Worcestershire Commissioners.
• EHSL leased a new build block of 12 one-bedroom flats from a developer/landlord to provide housing with 24/7 support to 11 people.
• EHSL has ongoing relationships with several portfolio landlords in Surrey and Hertfordshire, and has leased multiple properties to provide housing to people with learning disabilities. In some cases these have been reconfigured to enable additional bathrooms to be provided.

Please call us on 0300 200 4100, or complete the enquiry form. Please provide the following:

• Full address(es) of property being referred
• Asking rent
• Description of property (i.e. detached house with 5 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, shared kitchen and communal lounge)

EHSL can offer a full management service by arranging all works required, and recharging the landlord for works which they are responsible for. Please contact us to discuss further.

Properties may not be proceedable for any of the following reasons:

• The rent requested for the property is higher than the market rate.
• There is an oversupply or lack of local demand for the type of property offered,
• The local authority does not support the scheme.
• The type of property is not suitable to meet the needs of the proposed occupants
• Room sizes or unit sizes are too small.
• The property lacks sufficient communal facilities.
• The condition of the property is unsuitable.
• The local authority has specific commissioning requirements which the property does not fulfil.
• The property requires substantial improvements or modernising which the landlord does not wish to carry out.
• There is a fundamental health and safety issue at the property that cannot be resolved.
• The landlord will not consent to adaptations.
• The cost of adaptations is too great.
• The property is too large for the client group.
• The landlord will not agree to the required lease terms and duration.
• The property’s location is unsuitable because it is not close to local facilities or transport routes.
• The local authority will not grant planning permission for change of use (if it is required).
• The mortgagee will not consent to the lease.
• There are ongoing disputes with neighbours.