Can a care home increase fees after you move in?

Short answer

Yes — most care home contracts allow annual fee increases, but only with reasonable notice (usually around 28 days) and in line with what the contract actually says. Unexplained or excessive increases can be challenged through the home’s complaints procedure, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, or the CMA.

Fee increases are normal — most care home contracts provide for an annual uplift — but they are not unlimited. A home cannot simply announce a new figure: increases must follow the contract terms and come with reasonable notice, typically at least a month.

Your protections

A clear written contract is required. Care homes must set out all fees and what is included before you sign. Read the increase clause carefully — how often fees can rise, on what basis, and with how much notice.
Increases must match the contract. An increase that is excessive, unexplained, or outside what the contract permits can be challenged — start with the home's complaints process, and escalate to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) or refer concerns to the Competition and Markets Authority.
Watch for extra charges such as "bed holding" fees that reserve your room during a hospital stay. These are only chargeable if the contract clearly provides for them — check before signing and negotiate if you can.

If the fees outgrow your funding

Rising fees matter most when your money is running down. Once your capital falls below the £23,250 upper limit, the council starts contributing — contact them before you reach that point so the financial assessment is ready. If the home then charges more than the council's usual rate, you can stay only if a third party (usually family) agrees to pay a top-up fee — the council cannot require the top-up to come from your own protected capital, and if no top-up can be arranged, the council must offer an alternative placement that meets your needs.

Self-funders should also be aware they often pay more than council-funded residents for the same room — councils negotiate lower rates, and this cross-subsidy is widely criticised. It is one more reason to scrutinise the contract, ask exactly what the weekly fee includes, and check the home's CQC rating before committing.

Read the full guide: Care Home Fees OverviewCovers eligibility, the process, deadlines, and next steps in depth.

Related guides

Care Home Complaints

If you or a family member are unhappy with the care received in a care home, you have the right to complain. Care homes are required to have a complaints procedure. If the complaint is not resolved internally, it can be escalated to the Care Quality Commission and, in relation to council-arranged care, to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

5 min

Care Home Top-Up Fees

When a council-funded care home placement costs more than the council's standard rate, the difference is called a 'top-up' and is paid by a third party — usually a family member. Top-ups are a major source of dispute. The Care Act 2014 sets strict rules: they must be voluntary, properly documented, and not from the resident's own capital below the threshold. This guide explains the system.

9 min

Changing Your Care Provider

You have the right to change your care provider if you are unhappy with the care you receive. The process depends on whether care is council-funded or self-funded, and whether you are changing a home care agency or moving care homes. This guide explains your rights and the practical steps involved.