How SSAS Pension Schemes Can Invest in Housemartin Supported-Living Property Loans
Self-Administered Pension Schemes (SSAS) allow experienced investors to take greater control of their retirement planning while accessing a wide range of permitted investments.
Self-Administered Pension Schemes (SSAS) are one of the most flexible pension structures available to company directors. They allow experienced investors to take greater control of their retirement planning while accessing a wide range of permitted investments, including commercial property, investment trusts, REITS, Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), and certain types of asset-backed lending.
At Housemartin, many investors already use SSAS pensions to invest in our fixed-rate, property-backed supported-living loans. This guide explains how SSAS pensions work, the assets they can invest in, and how they can be used to invest on Housemartin.
What Is a SSAS Pension?
A Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) is a type of occupational pension scheme designed for company directors and business owners. Key features include:
- Full trustee control — The scheme’s members are usually also its trustees, giving direct oversight over investment decisions.
- Flexible investment options — A SSAS can invest in a wide range of assets from government bonds to commercial property, subject to HMRC rules.
- Tax efficiency — Contributions are generally tax-deductible for the company, and investments grow free from income and capital gains tax.
- Ideal for business owners — A SSAS can lend money back to the sponsoring employer (within strict rules), purchase commercial property, and co-invest with its members.
Unlike a SIPP, which is run by a professional provider with standardised investment menus, a SSAS allows members to select investments more widely, provided they do not breach HMRC’s “taxable property” rules.
What Can a SSAS Invest In?
A SSAS can invest in a broad range of permitted assets, including:
- Commercial property (including long-term leased supported-living housing).
- Property-backed debt instruments.
- Authorised funds, gilts, equities and bonds
- Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)
- Third party loans
- Cash deposits
A SSAS cannot invest directly in residential property or anything treated as “taxable property” under HMRC rules. However, loans secured against property, provided they are structured correctly and do not give the SSAS ownership of residential property, are permitted. This is where Housemartin fits in.
Why SSAS Pensions Can Invest Through Housemartin
Housemartin is an FCA-regulated peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform specialising in fixed-rate loans to property special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that acquire supported-living housing. Investors lend directly to borrower SPVs using Article 36H P2P agreements — a structure confirmed as appropriate in formal legal opinions and recognised by the FCA when granting Housemartin regulatory approval.
Why this matters for SSAS trustees
- Housemartin loans are not equity, so the SSAS does not hold “residential property”, it simply holds a loan agreement.
- Each loan is backed by a UK property leased to a supported-living provider, offering clear asset backing.
- Interest is a fixed contractual return, not dependent on business performance.
This makes Housemartin loans compliant with HMRC SSAS investment rules, provided trustees follow their own SSAS provider’s due-diligence steps.
Benefits of Using a SSAS to Invest in Housemartin
1. Tax-Advantaged Income (Interest Paid Gross)
All rental income from supported-living properties is passed through as fixed-rate loan interest, and because the SSAS pays no income tax, the return is received entirely tax-free within the pension.
2. Backed by UK Property
Every loan is backed by a specific property leased to a regulated or well-established supported-living provider. The SSAS receives exposure to a low-volatility physical asset without owning residential property directly.
3. Regular Monthly Income
Loans pay interest monthly, which is perfect for SSAS schemes aiming to build steady, predictable income streams as part of a blended retirement strategy.
4. Diversification and Risk Management
Housemartin primarily creates loans for supported-living housing, a sector historically backed by long-term government-supported revenue. The platform operates with a documented governance and compliance framework, including strict AML controls,daily sanctions checks and client-money under FCA CASS rules. This offers trustees an additional layer of oversight and comfort.
5. Full Control for Trustees
As a SSAS is trustee-directed, members choose which specific loans to invest in. Housemartin provides transparent loan documentation, risk assessment, and access to the secondary market for liquidity.
How a SSAS Can Invest Through Housemartin
Every SSAS provider has its own process, but the steps typically follow this pattern:
1. SSAS Trustees Open a Housemartin Account
Trustees sign up in their capacity as scheme trustees and Housemartin completes KYC/KYB checks in line with FCA and MLR requirements.
2. SSAS Transfers Funds to Housemartin
SSAS makes a deposit from a verified SSAS bank account; the money is held in a segregated client account under FCA CASS rules.
3. Trustees Choose Investments
Trustees invest in individual loans of their choice on the marketplace in order to create a portfolio or underwrite primary property launches.
4. Monthly Interest Paid to the SSAS
Returns flow into the SSAS Housemartin account each month. Trustees can then decide whether to reinvest or withdraw the funds to the SSAS bank account.
5. Option to Exit via the Secondary Market
If liquidity is needed, the SSAS can list loan holdings for sale to other Housemartin investors — subject to market demand.
Why Supported-Living Property Is Attractive for SSAS Investment
Key characteristics of the supported living model include:
- Long inflation-linked leases (often 5+ years).
- Rent funded by housing benefit and local authorities.
- Strong demand for specialist accommodation
- Diversification of investments with exposure to UK property
Housemartin has specialised exclusively in this sector since 2021, sourcing properties with strong provider relationships, long-term care demand, and delivering stable income-generating assets.
SSAS pensions are designed for investors who want more control, a wider investment choice, and the ability to build tax-efficient, long-term income. Housemartin’s model of fixed-rate, property-backed supported-living loans delivered through an FCA-regulated platform, aligns with these objectives.
Many SSAS trustees already use Housemartin as part of a diversified pension strategy. If you’d like help with onboarding a SSAS, our team can guide you through the steps and provide the necessary documentation for your SSAS provider.
To get started, create a Housemartin account or contact us at support@housemartin.co.