Advice for landlords – tenancies for people with additional support needs

The Mental Welfare Commission today published a new good practice guide for landlords about tenancy agreements for people with additional support needs. It will also be useful for social workers and families.

Over the last decade there has been a major shift in how and where people with additional support needs live and receive the care they need. 

Increasingly, individuals are supported to live as part of communities, enjoying the benefits and experiences community living brings. Consequently, the Mental Welfare Commission has seen an increase in enquiries from housing association, local authority and private landlords, and from social work services, about how these arrangements can be supported legally, and how those organisations can ensure that the person’s rights are upheld and promoted. 

Suzanne McGuinness, executive director, social work, at the Mental Welfare Commission, said:

“One area which can challenge landlords and social work services is how an individual who potentially lacks capacity to understand the contractual arrangements inherent in a tenancy agreement can be supported to sign the agreement. 
“Our new good practice guide addresses this issue. We hope it will be useful for all landlords, social work departments, advocacy and third sector organisations as they seek to support tenants. 
“It may also be of interest to relatives and carers of people with additional support needs who are tenants or prospective tenants”.