Supported Living & Guaranteed Rent FAQs for Landlords

Supported living is housing provided to people who need support to live more independently. For a property owner, the housing arrangement can involve leasing the property to a provider such as Sapphire Living Care Care, with the provider managing resident placements and day-to-day housing matters under the signed agreement.

Sapphire Living Care Care assesses your property, confirms whether it meets the required standards, presents a fixed-term rental offer and, once the agreement starts, pays the agreed monthly rent for the term covered by the contract. Sapphire Living Care manages resident placements and coordinates routine property matters.

Yes, if the property, location, ownership position and compliance requirements fit the provider's criteria. Sapphire Living Care currently assesses suitable properties in Greater Manchester and selected surrounding areas. A property assessment confirms suitability before an offer is made.

With traditional letting, your income and management workload often depend on individual tenancies, occupancy and the service level of your agent. Sapphire Living Care's model is based on a fixed-term agreement, agreed monthly rent, no landlord management fee and continued payment during resident changes, subject to the signed contract.

Guaranteed rent trades some headline market rent for greater income certainty and less management work. The figure reflects the fixed-term structure, no landlord management fee, reduced exposure to void periods and the responsibilities Sapphire Living Care takes on under the agreement. Compare the net figures rather than rent alone.

Your rent depends on the property's location, size, condition, layout and suitability. Sapphire Living Care provides a property-specific figure after assessment. The agreed figure is then set out in your contract for the agreed term.

Yes, during covered void periods your agreed payment continues according to the signed guaranteed rent agreement. A resident moving out does not automatically stop the landlord's monthly payment.

Sapphire Living Care pays the landlord according to the signed agreement. The wider funding structure can include local authority arrangements and Housing Benefit, depending on the accommodation model and resident eligibility.

The payment start date is confirmed in your agreement. It normally follows the property assessment, any required compliance work and completion of the contract.

The rent terms are agreed before signing and recorded in the contract. Any review mechanism, increase or fixed-rent period should be stated clearly in the agreement so you know the position before committing.

Sapphire Living Care's current guaranteed rent proposition states that landlords do not pay a percentage management fee. Your written offer and contract should list any property-specific costs before you sign.

Your payment continues according to the guaranteed rent agreement while Sapphire Living Care manages the resident transition. This is designed to remove the normal void-period risk linked to changing occupants.

Your landlord payment is governed by your contract with Sapphire Living Care rather than by an individual resident paying you directly. The exact payment protections and timing should be checked in the signed agreement.

Sapphire Living Care offers fixed-term agreements of up to five years. The exact term is agreed before signing, so the start date, end date and key responsibilities are clear from the outset.

The legal parties are named in the written agreement. Sapphire Living Care explains the proposed structure before signing so you can confirm who is responsible for rent, management and property obligations.

Not necessarily. Supported housing arrangements can use different legal structures depending on the parties and operating model. Your agreement should state the exact legal relationship and you should review that document before signing.

Break rights depend on the contract offered for your property. If you need flexibility, raise it before signing so any agreed break clause, notice period and conditions appear in the written agreement.

Your ability to recover the property early depends on the termination and break provisions in your contract. Check these terms before signing, particularly if you expect to sell, refinance or move back into the property.

A sale can be possible, but the existing agreement and any buyer or lender requirements need to be considered. Speak with Sapphire Living Care before marketing the property so the contractual position and handover options are clear.

This depends on your lender and the terms of the property agreement. Some lenders place restrictions on leasing to companies or supported housing providers. Check lender consent before committing to a refinance or new facility.

Before the term ends, the parties can discuss renewal or handback. The contract should state the notice process, property condition requirements, outstanding works and the steps for returning control of the property.

Sapphire Living Care currently considers suitable houses and flats, with a strong preference for larger properties in its active coverage areas. The current property requirements page states that most properties with three or more bedrooms in decent condition can be assessed.

Sapphire Living Care's published criteria focus on properties with three or more bedrooms, while current acquisition activity can prioritise four-bedroom HMO properties in Greater Manchester. Suitability still depends on layout, location, condition and local demand.

The property should be safe, well maintained and capable of meeting the required housing standards. Sapphire Living Care carries out an assessment and identifies any compliance or upgrade work before the agreement starts.

Sapphire Living Care's published property criteria state an EPC rating of D or above. The wider legal minimum and any exemptions depend on current regulations, while Sapphire's own acceptance standard can be higher.

Electrical safety requirements apply to rented homes in England, and Sapphire Living Care will check the electrical compliance position during assessment. Keep a current Electrical Installation Condition Report and any evidence of remedial work available for review.

If the property has relevant gas appliances, landlords have statutory gas safety duties. Sapphire Living Care checks the compliance position before occupation, so keep the current Gas Safety Record and appliance information available.

It depends on the property, number of occupants, household structure and local licensing rules. Mandatory HMO licensing and additional or selective licensing rules can apply. Sapphire Living Care checks the local position as part of assessing the property.

Planning requirements depend on how the property will be used, its existing lawful use, occupancy model and local planning rules. Some arrangements need no change, while others need planning input or consent. The property should be checked before use changes.

Not every property needs major adaptations. Requirements depend on the residents, referral needs and intended use. Any required safety, accessibility or layout work is identified during the property assessment.

The required furnishing level depends on the intended accommodation model and the agreed handover specification. Sapphire Living Care confirms what should remain in the property before the agreement starts.

If your property is mortgaged, check your mortgage conditions and obtain any consent your lender requires before entering the agreement. Lenders can apply different rules to company lets, supported housing and longer fixed-term arrangements.

This depends on the lender and mortgage product. Some buy-to-let products restrict company lets, subletting, HMO use or supported housing. Ask the lender or broker to confirm that the proposed agreement is permitted before signing.

Your insurer needs accurate information about how the property will be occupied and managed. A standard landlord policy does not fit every supported housing arrangement, so confirm the intended use with your insurer and obtain cover that matches it.

Yes. Give the insurer a clear description of the intended occupancy and contractual arrangement before the property enters the scheme. This helps prevent a mismatch between the policy wording and the property's use.

Building insurance responsibilities should be set out in the property agreement. Property owners commonly retain buildings cover, while the provider's own policies cover its operational risks. Confirm the division of cover before signing.

Cover depends on the policy wording, exclusions and cause of damage. Ask your insurer specifically about accidental damage, malicious damage and supported housing occupancy, then compare that position with the damage responsibilities in your Sapphire Living Care agreement.

Sapphire Living Care coordinates routine maintenance through vetted contractors under its guaranteed rent service. The contract should distinguish routine operational maintenance from any structural or owner-specific obligations.

The service is designed so resident property issues go through Sapphire Living Care rather than directly to the landlord. Sapphire Living Care then coordinates the response according to the agreement and the nature of the repair.

Structural responsibilities depend on the written agreement and applicable landlord duties. Items such as the building structure, major systems or capital works should be clearly allocated before the agreement starts.

Responsibility depends on the cause of the damage and the terms of the agreement. The inventory, inspection record, insurance position and contractual damage clauses help determine who is responsible for the repair cost.

Inspection frequency depends on the property and operating requirements. Sapphire Living Care monitors property condition as part of management, with any formal inspection schedule or reporting arrangement confirmed in the agreement.

Residents report urgent property issues through the management route rather than calling the landlord directly. Sapphire Living Care coordinates the appropriate contractor response and contacts the owner when the matter falls within an owner responsibility.

Contractor arrangements depend on the type of work and your agreement. Sapphire Living Care uses vetted contractors for managed repairs, while owner-responsibility works can be discussed with the team where appropriate.

Supported living provides housing for people who need some level of care, support or supervision to live more independently. The resident group and referral route depend on the specific service and property.

Sapphire Living Care works with referral partners and relevant services to match suitable residents with available accommodation. Placement decisions consider the property, support needs and the operating requirements of the scheme.

No direct day-to-day landlord contact is part of Sapphire Living Care's core proposition. The management team handles resident housing matters, communication and routine property issues under the agreement.

Support arrangements depend on each resident and the service model. Supported housing is designed for people who receive care, support or supervision, but the type and frequency of support varies by individual need.

Sapphire Living Care manages resident-related housing issues through its management and support processes. The response depends on the incident, risk level, resident support plan, property agreement and any statutory responsibilities.

Sapphire Living Care manages the transition, prepares for the next suitable placement and deals with the property under its management process. Your landlord payment continues according to the guaranteed rent terms in your contract.

Housing Benefit can contribute to housing costs in qualifying supported accommodation. The exact route depends on the accommodation type, provider structure and resident eligibility. Sapphire Living Care manages its funding arrangements separately from the landlord's agreed monthly payment.

No. Sapphire Living Care's guaranteed rent is not council-backed or council-guaranteed. Your landlord payment rights come from the contract you sign with Sapphire Living Care. Any Housing Benefit or local authority arrangements relevant to residents are separate from the landlord's contractual payment terms.

Under Sapphire Living Care's guaranteed rent model, your agreed landlord payment is designed to continue through resident changes and covered void periods. The exact protection is defined in your signed agreement.

Council tax liability depends on the occupancy and legal structure of the property. In some forms of supported accommodation the owner is liable, while other arrangements differ. Sapphire Living Care checks the intended use so the correct council tax position can be confirmed.

There is no single exemption that applies to all supported living properties. Liability and discounts depend on the residents, property classification and local authority rules. Check the specific property and occupancy arrangement with the council.

Sapphire Living Care is based in Greater Manchester and works across Greater Manchester and selected surrounding areas. Published coverage includes Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Bolton, Wigan and parts of the North West, with additional areas assessed according to demand.

Yes, selected properties outside Greater Manchester can be considered where there is active demand and the property fits the required model. Submit the postcode and property details so the team can confirm current coverage.

You provide the basic property details, then Sapphire Living Care reviews location, size, layout, condition and likely suitability. If the property fits current demand, the team arranges an assessment and identifies any compliance work before presenting the final agreement.

Provide the postcode, property type, number of bedrooms, current occupancy, availability date, condition and any relevant HMO or licensing information. Photos, floor plans and current compliance certificates help the team assess the property faster.

Submit your property details through Sapphire Living Care's contact or consultation form. The team reviews the property and provides a property-specific rental figure if it fits current requirements. There is no obligation to accept the offer.