Housing options

One of the hopes and dreams of your young person with SEND, might be to move out of the family home in the future. There will be lots to consider. You need to make sure that the right people are part of this process, for example an occupational therapist or social worker. It will depend upon the needs of your young person and what you think they would like for their future.

Read Caitlin's case study about her new home (opens new window). Her mother gives her point of view.

Organisations who can offer help and advice about finding a home.

Renting

To rent a property your young person will need to enter into a tenancy agreement with the property owner. Your young person's ability to understand this agreement, may require someone else to sign on their behalf.

Find out more about tenancy agreements.

Read about mental capacity.

Renting social housing

• This type of housing must be applied for. Housing is allocated based on need and priority
• The benefits are that landlords are regulated and governed by set standards. Generally, this type of tenancy is the most secure. Rents are set at a level which reflect housing benefits
• The drawback is that the demand greatly exceeds supply

Your young person will need to register with their local city or district councils choice-based letting scheme. If their application is accepted they will:

• Be put into a band with people who have similar needs to them
• Told what type of housing they are eligible to apply for

Private renting

• Private landlords are not focused on allocation or priority of need
• There is more choice over property and location
• This can be a less secure type of tenancy
• Private rent can be more expensive. Housing benefit may not cover all the cost
• Some landlords do not rent to people on housing benefits

Private sector leasing

• This is an option that brings together the benefits of social and private housing
• The benefit is your young person is protected as a tenant. Housing associations are regulated
• There is no allocation process. Norfolk district councils can provide more information about private sector leasing

18+ housing options that require a young person to be supported by adult social services

For those who are eligible, Adult Social Care can provide additional help. The following options may be explored for a person who has an assessed need:

Shared Lives scheme

The Shared Lives scheme is where a young person lives with another family in their home. The family provides the support. The young person may be charged for the care element of the Shared Lives Scheme, depending on their financial circumstances.

You can watch the story of Ben on YouTube (opens new window), a young man who is part of the Shared Lives Scheme.

Supported Living

Supported Living is the term for shared properties or clusters of individual homes, where support is provided to people who are tenants in their own homes. There is a range of Supported Living properties across Norfolk. Some Supported Living is for longer term living, and some is shorter term, to give people a stepping-stone to help them to live more independently.

This shorter-term supported living is called 'enablement'. Access for any supported living is usually via Adult Social Services so, if an assessment shows you are eligible for support, talk to the person carrying out your assessment about the available options. You may be charged for the care element of supported living, depending on your financial circumstances.

Residential care

A person may have a room, or sometimes a flat, in a building shared with several other people. There is 24-hour support and meals provided. For more information on the options above, talk to your Adult Social Services social worker or Preparing for Adult Life (PfAL) worker.

Shared ownership

• Helps people with limited funds to buy a property
• Uses the home ownership long-term disability guidelines
• To be eligible for this option, your young person must meet the following criteria:
  • Have a long-term disability
  • Household earnings of less than £80,000
  • Is a first-time buyer, or used to own a home but can't afford to buy one now, or are an existing shared owner looking to move

Visit Help to buy east and south east website, for information on how the scheme works and search for properties. Contact your local district council, who may provide shared ownership properties.

Family investment

Options could include:

• Outright ownership
• Mortgage
• Inheritance of property
• A group of families may purchase a property together, or may pay towards some of the costs