Housing and Tenancy Support Audit - Supported Living

Evidence to check

• • Tenancy rights and responsibilities are explained in a format the tenant can understand
• • Support plan records any help the tenant needs to understand or manage their tenancy
• • Tenant is supported to know who their landlord or housing provider is
• • Staff can explain how they support tenancy rights without taking control unnecessarily

Evidence to check

• • Support plans distinguish care tasks from housing or tenancy responsibilities
• • Staff understand what sits with the landlord or housing provider
• • Care is not made conditional on tenancy compliance inappropriately
• • Records show housing issues are escalated to the correct organisation

Evidence to check

• • Training or guidance on tenancy support and housing-related risks
• • Staff know when to escalate to managers, housing providers, social workers or advocates
• • Records show tenancy concerns are responded to early
• • Staff do not give legal advice beyond their role

Evidence to check

• • Tenancy agreement or relevant housing information is available where appropriate
• • Accessible format provided where the tenant needs this
• • Tenant understands key terms where possible
• • Documents are stored securely and accessed only by authorised people

Evidence to check

• • Support plans record preferences about the tenant’s home and routines
• • Staff respect the tenant’s home, privacy and personal space
• • Restrictions on visitors, belongings or use of space are avoided unless lawful and proportionate
• • Tenant feedback confirms they feel in control of their home

Evidence to check

• • Records of tenancy breach concerns and support offered
• • Tenant is supported to understand the concern and possible consequences
• • Advocacy, social worker, housing provider or family involvement considered where appropriate
• • Actions focus on tenancy sustainment and reducing risk, not blame

Evidence to check

• • Support plan records agreed financial or budgeting support
• • Consent, capacity, appointeeship or deputyship arrangements are clear where relevant
• • Receipts, transaction records or financial logs are maintained where staff handle money
• • Concerns about arrears, exploitation or financial abuse are escalated

Evidence to check

• • Records of communication with housing provider or landlord
• • Housing issues are discussed in reviews where relevant
• • Professional or multi-agency meetings include housing input when needed
• • Actions from housing discussions are tracked to completion

Evidence to check

• • Repairs or maintenance log
• • Dates reported, chased and completed are recorded
• • Temporary controls are used where risk remains
• • Unresolved hazards are escalated to managers, housing provider, landlord, commissioner or safeguarding where needed

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessments include housing and environmental risks
• • Support plan gives staff clear guidance on how to respond
• • Tenant’s consent, capacity and choices are considered
• • Multi-agency input is sought where risks are significant or persistent

Evidence to check

• • Staff can explain consent and privacy requirements in tenancy situations
• • Support plan records agreed access and support arrangements
• • Records show consent considered before sharing information or entering private areas
• • Exceptions are recorded where urgent risk or safeguarding requires action

Evidence to check

• • Tenant preferences about decor, belongings and personal space are recorded
• • Staff support personalisation without imposing their own standards
• • Cultural, religious, identity and lifestyle preferences are respected
• • Safety concerns are managed proportionately without making the home feel institutional

Evidence to check

• • Support plans reflect shared-living risks and preferences
• • Tenants have access to private space and choice over social interaction
• • Concerns about compatibility, conflict or intimidation are recorded and escalated
• • Shared-space arrangements do not create blanket restrictions or institutional rules

Evidence to check

• • Contingency plans include housing-related emergencies
• • Housing provider or landlord emergency contacts are current
• • Staff know how to escalate urgent building or utility issues
• • High-risk tenants are identified for welfare checks during housing emergencies

Evidence to check

• • Records of disputes and actions taken
• • Tenant’s views are recorded separately from others’ views
• • Support is offered to help the tenant communicate or resolve issues
• • Safeguarding, advocacy, housing provider or police involvement considered where risk is present

Evidence to check

• • Move-in or move-out plan
• • Tenant is supported to understand tenancy agreement, bills, keys, repairs and house rules where applicable
• • Support considers emotional wellbeing, routines, possessions and community links
• • Follow-up checks confirm the tenant is settling or moving on safely

Evidence to check

• • Records of statutory safety checks where available to the care provider
• • Responsibility for checks is clear between housing provider, landlord and care provider
• • Overdue or missing safety evidence is escalated
• • Staff know what to do if they identify gas, electrical, fire or water safety concerns

Evidence to check

• • Accessible information about housing complaints and escalation routes
• • Records show support offered to challenge decisions or raise complaints
• • Advocacy or representative support considered where needed
• • Tenant’s own wishes remain central to any challenge or complaint

Evidence to check

• • Housing quality concerns recorded with dates and actions
• • Escalation to landlord, housing provider, environmental health, commissioner or safeguarding where needed
• • Impact on tenant health, dignity and wellbeing is considered
• • Temporary support is arranged where risk remains unresolved

Evidence to check

• • Housing and environmental risk assessments are reviewed regularly
• • Reviews completed after falls, fire concerns, self-neglect, disputes, hospital admission or deterioration
• • Support plan updated after housing risk changes
• • Staff are informed of new risks or actions

Evidence to check

• • Supervision records include tenancy or housing risks where relevant
• • Tenant reviews include housing satisfaction, repairs, safety and tenancy goals
• • Team meetings discuss housing-related learning or concerns
• • Actions from discussions are followed up

Evidence to check

• • Housing support records are clear, factual and securely stored
• • Care records contain only relevant housing information needed for safe support
• • Confidential information is not shared with housing providers without consent or lawful basis
• • Staff understand record-keeping boundaries between care and housing matters

Evidence to check

• • Support plan includes housing independence or move-on goals where relevant
• • Goals are tenant-led and reviewed over time
• • Practical skills such as budgeting, cleaning, cooking, bills and appointments are supported
• • Housing options, advocacy or social work input considered where needed

Evidence to check

• • Risk register includes housing and tenancy risks where relevant
• • Governance records review repairs, environmental hazards, tenancy risks and housing partner issues
• • Unresolved housing risks are escalated at senior level
• • Tenant impact is considered, not only operational risk

Evidence to check

• • Support plans include goals around home confidence, routines or tenancy stability where relevant
• • Staff support independence with cleaning, decor, visitors and household routines where agreed
• • Tenant feedback shows they feel respected and at home
• • Support avoids creating institutional routines or unnecessary dependence

Evidence to check

• • Housing concerns are screened for safeguarding implications
• • Safeguarding referrals made where thresholds are met
• • Rationale recorded where safeguarding is considered but not referred
• • Protective actions are reviewed for effectiveness

Evidence to check

• • Joint working records identify responsible agencies
• • Actions are tracked where more than one agency is involved
• • Managers escalate when agencies disagree or delay action
• • Tenant is kept informed and supported while issues are resolved

Evidence to check

• • Audit includes tenant feedback and environmental observation where appropriate
• • Audit checks whether repairs and risks were actually resolved
• • Findings are linked to quality improvement actions
• • Governance reviews whether housing support improves safety, rights and quality of life