Investor resource
Specialist Supported Living — Diligence Checklist
A practical buyer checklist for underwriting UK Specialist Supported Housing (SSH) and related supported living investments — covering title, lease, planning, EPC, warranty, valuation, counterparties, rent, insurance, repairs, and legal/tax review.
Print or save this page as PDF from your browser for offline use.
1. Title
- Freehold / leasehold tenure confirmed
- Charges, restrictions and use covenants reviewed
- Title defects and indemnities understood
2. Lease
- Lease parties, commencement, expiry and term verified
- Rent amount, payment frequency and review mechanism verified
- Break options, default remedies and assignment rights understood
- Indicative marketing yields reconciled to the signed lease
3. Planning
- Planning permission and lawful use confirmed
- Any change-of-use or conditions checked
- Local authority commissioning context understood
4. EPC and property fitness
- EPC rating obtained and reviewed
- Fire safety and adaptations suitable for supported living
- Independent survey instructed where appropriate
5. Build warranty
- Build warranty provider, term and cover confirmed
- Snagging and latent defect allocation understood
6. Valuation
- Independent valuation instructed
- Special assumptions and comparable evidence reviewed
- Gross vs net yield assumptions documented (fees, voids, finance)
7. Counterparty accounts
- Lease counterparty identity and type confirmed
- Financial accounts / covenant materials reviewed where available
8. Operator credentials
- Care operator credentials and (where relevant) CQC history reviewed
- Continuity planning if operator fails or exits
9. Rent schedule
- Initial rent, payment dates and review formula documented
- CPI / RPI definition, cap, floor and compounding checked
10. Insurance
- Building insurance obligations and interested parties confirmed
- Sum insured and reinstatement basis understood
11. Repair obligations
- FRI / repair schedules reviewed (internal, external, structural)
- Owner residual responsibilities and exceptions identified
- Do not assume zero maintenance without lease support
12. Legal review
- Independent solicitor instructed on title, lease and purchase docs
- Housing association / registered provider covenant assessed
13. Tax review
- Ownership vehicle recommended by tax counsel
- Cross-border reporting considered for diaspora investors
- Total cost of acquisition (SDLT, fees, works) included in ROI
14. Exit and suitability
- Holding period and liquidity assumptions explicit
- Buyer pool at year 5 / 10 considered
- Independent legal, tax and (if needed) regulated advice obtained
- Investor acknowledges income and capital are not guaranteed
Investments carry risk. Returns are not guaranteed. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Figures shown are indicative and subject to due diligence. Prospective investors should obtain independent financial, legal and tax advice before making investment decisions.
This checklist is educational information from Bhenito Limited. It is not legal, tax or regulated financial advice. Every opportunity must be verified against its own documents and professional advice.
Want help applying this to an opportunity?
Speak with Bhenito about selected supported living opportunities and a coordinated diligence pathway.