Supported living regulations in England: what applies
By Cura Compliance UK · Updated 7 November 2026
There is no single set of supported living regulations. What is regulated is the personal care delivered to people in their own tenanted homes, which falls under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and is inspected by CQC. The housing, tenancy and landlord side sits outside CQC's remit, which is the distinction most new providers miss.
What CQC regulates, and what it does not
CQC does not register accommodation. In supported living it registers the regulated activity of personal care, meaning help with washing, dressing, eating, toileting and medication, delivered to people who are tenants in their own homes. The tenancy, the building and the landlord relationship are governed by housing and tenancy law and are usually held by a separate housing provider. Keeping care and housing legally separate is a defining feature of genuine supported living.
The framework that applies to the care
Because the care is the regulated part, the same rules that govern domiciliary care apply. Providers register under the 2014 Regulations, meet the fundamental standards, and are assessed against the CQC quality statements under the single assessment framework. The practical difference from home care is not the regulation but the setting: the person is a tenant in control of their own home, not a resident in yours.
Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture
Where supported living is for people with a learning disability or autistic people, CQC applies its Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture guidance. It expects care that maximises choice and control, is not institutional, and helps people lead the lives they choose. Registration and inspection for these services are judged against that expectation, so your model and policies have to reflect it.
How the pieces fit together
- Housing and tenancy law: the person's right to their home, kept separate from the care
- The 2014 Regulations and quality statements: how the personal care is regulated and inspected
- The Mental Capacity Act: consent, best interests and any restrictions on liberty
- Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture: the expectation for learning disability and autism services
From regulation to policies
The regulations set the outcomes; your policies show how you meet them within a tenancy model. For the specific documents a registered supported living provider needs, see supported living policies and procedures, and read CQC regulations for domiciliary care for the shared framework.
Where CuraFlow fits
CuraFlow's supported living library is built around the tenancy model and Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, personalised to your service, with review dates and acknowledgement tracking. Browse the supported living library or see pricing and free samples.
Frequently asked questions
- Are there specific supported living regulations?
- No single set. What is regulated is the personal care, under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, inspected by CQC. The accommodation and tenancy are governed separately by housing law and usually held by a different provider.
- Does supported living have to register with CQC?
- The provider of personal care does. CQC registers the regulated activity of personal care delivered to people in their own homes, not the accommodation itself. A service that only provides housing or support without personal care does not register with CQC.
- What is Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture?
- It is CQC guidance for services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people. It expects care that maximises choice and control, avoids institutional practice, and helps people lead the lives they choose, and CQC assesses these services against it.
Ready-to-use, regulator-aligned policies for your service
Browse the supported living policy library