How much does home care cost in London? (2026 rates by borough)

As of 2026, home care in London typically costs £30–£40 an hour for weekday visits from an agency, with most prices falling between £32 and £35. Live-in care for one person usually costs £1,300–£1,800 a week. Home care cost in London depends on the care needed, the time of day, the provider and your postcode, so sources vary and you should always get a written quote.

This guide covers the rules across England. Read it for your council area, with your council's contact details, published care rates and local figures.

Live in West Sussex? Read our local guide: How Much Does Home Care Cost in the UK? 2026 Prices.

Arranging care in West Sussex instead? Read our guide: Home Care in West Sussex: How It Works, What It Costs and Where to Start.

At a glance

• Hourly home care in London: about £30–£40 per hour on weekdays (2026 provider and marketplace data).
• The Homecare Association’s minimum sustainable price for England is £34.42 per hour for 2026/27.
• Weekends usually cost 10–25% more; bank holidays are often time-and-a-half.
• Live-in care: about £1,300–£1,800 a week for one person in London.
• If your savings are under £23,250, your borough council may help pay after a needs and financial assessment.

How much does a carer cost per hour in London?

Most London home care agencies charge between £30 and £40 an hour for standard weekday personal care. Marketplace data puts the London average at about £33 an hour, with most listed agencies charging £32–£35 (Lottie, seen September 2026). The UK average is around £32 an hour, so London is only slightly higher for visiting care.

The Homecare Association (HCA), the trade body for home care providers, calculates a “minimum price” that covers care workers’ pay, travel time, training and running costs. For 2026/27 it is £34.42 an hour in England, based on the National Living Wage of £12.71 (Homecare Association, December 2025). London providers quoting the HCA report give a figure of around £38.69 an hour for a version based on the London Living Wage.

Which? says self-funders should expect to pay “at least the minimum rate of £34 per hour” (Which?, 2026-27 figures). If a quote is far below this, ask how the agency pays its staff for travel time and training.

Typical London home care prices (2026)

As of 2026. Sources vary; prices depend on care needs, provider and postcode. Always get a written quote.

Does home care cost more in some London boroughs?

There is no official borough-by-borough price list for private home care. What published prices do show is a spread from outer to central London:

• Outer east London: one Havering-based provider quotes £25–£35 an hour, with dementia care from about £32 an hour (January 2026).
• Outer south-east London: one Bromley provider’s published price list charges £32.79 an hour for a standard weekday hour, falling to £28.53 an hour for visits of two hours or more (effective April 2026).
• Central London: care software firm Birdie reports that rates above £35 an hour are “not uncommon” in central London (April 2026).

In practice, prices in inner boroughs such as Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea or Camden tend to sit at the top of the range. Travel between visits, parking and congestion all add cost for providers. Our guide to why home care costs more in London explains the pressures in more detail.

What London councils pay for home care

Councils buy home care in bulk and pay far less than private clients. The Greater London average paid by councils was £21.87 an hour in 2025/26, below the England council average (Homecare Association, 2026). The HCA reports that more than half of London boroughs paid less per hour than was needed to meet care workers’ direct employment costs.

Some boroughs raised their rates more than others in 2025/26. Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster increased their rates by 9.0%, while Barnet, Hillingdon and Lewisham made no increase (Homecare Association, June 2025). This matters to you because a low council rate can make it harder to find an agency with capacity for council-funded packages.

Why do short visits cost more per hour?

Short visits cost more per hour because the carer’s travel time between clients still has to be paid. A 30-minute visit often costs 20–30% more per hour than an hour-long visit. For example, one Bromley price list charges £24.58 for 30 minutes and £27.86 for 45 minutes, against £32.79 for a full hour.

NICE guidance says home care visits should be at least 30 minutes, except for short agreed tasks such as a medication check (NICE QS123). Many agencies set a minimum of 30 minutes or one hour. If you are comparing quotes, ask for the price per visit, not just the hourly rate.

Our guide to 15, 30 or 60-minute care visits shows what a carer can realistically do in each.

How much does home care cost per week in London?

Your weekly bill depends on how many hours of care you need. The table below uses £33 an hour, close to the London average, for weekday care. Weekend hours would cost more.

Illustrative calculation, not a quote. As of 2026.

Once someone needs care for many hours a day, live-in care is often better value than hourly visits. A full 24-hour rota of hourly carers can cost more than £5,000 a week at agency rates, while live-in care in London typically costs £1,300–£1,800 a week.

How much do live-in and overnight care cost in London?

Live-in care means a carer lives in the home and provides support through the day, with agreed breaks and a sleeping night. As of 2026, London prices are typically £1,300–£1,800 a week for one person and £1,600–£2,000 for a couple. Dementia or complex needs can push the price to £2,500 or more.

London live-in care is not always more expensive than elsewhere. One marketplace puts London live-in care at £1,498 a week, slightly below its UK average of £1,540 (September 2026).

Overnight care is priced per night:

• Sleeping night: the carer sleeps in the home and helps if needed. Typically £190–£230 a night in London.
• Waking night: the carer stays awake all night. Typically £240–£320 a night, or £28–£40 an hour.

What affects the price you’ll pay?

Several factors change a quote:

• Type of care. Companionship and help around the home usually cost less than personal care. Dementia, complex or nursing care costs more.
• Time of day and week. Evenings, weekends and bank holidays attract higher rates. Many providers charge 10–25% more for unsocial hours.
• Visit length. Shorter visits cost more per hour.
• Two carers. Some needs, such as hoisting, need two carers at once, which roughly doubles the cost of that visit.
• Managed agency or introductory agency. Managed, CQC-registered agencies employ, train and supervise carers. Introductory agencies connect you with self-employed carers and are cheaper, but you take on more responsibility. See managed care vs introductory care agency.
• Continuity and travel. A provider close to your home may be able to offer more consistent carers.

Is home care VAT exempt?

Care provided by a CQC-registered agency is exempt from VAT as a welfare service (HMRC VAT Notice 701/2). This applies whether you pay privately or the council pays. Introductory or placement fees charged by agencies are standard-rated, so VAT may be added to those.

Can I get help paying for home care in London?

Yes. There are several routes, and many families combine them.

1. Council funding. Your borough council must carry out a free needs assessment if you appear to need care. If you’re eligible, a financial assessment follows. In England, if your capital is over £23,250, you’ll usually pay the full cost. Between £14,250 and £23,250 you’ll contribute, and below £14,250 you’ll contribute from income only (DHSC, 2026/27). The value of your home is not counted for home care.
2. Minimum Income Guarantee. If the council funds your care, it must leave you with at least £241.45 a week if you’re single and over Pension Credit age (DHSC, 2026/27).
3. Attendance Allowance. This non-means-tested benefit pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week to people over State Pension age who need help with personal care (DWP, April 2026). It can go towards care costs.
4. NHS Continuing Healthcare. If someone’s needs are primarily health needs, the NHS pays the full cost of care at home.
5. Reablement. After a hospital stay or a crisis, councils must provide reablement free for up to six weeks.

Our full guide on how to pay for home care covers each option step by step.

How can I keep home care costs down?

• Ask for a needs assessment first, even if you expect to self-fund. It sets out what care is needed and can unlock free reablement or equipment.
• Claim Attendance Allowance if eligible. The higher rate covers roughly three to four hours of weekday care a week at London prices.
• Group tasks into longer visits, which cost less per hour than several short ones.
• Check for Council Tax reductions. A person with a severe mental impairment, such as advanced dementia, may be disregarded for Council Tax.
• Compare like with like. Ask each agency for a written quote showing weekday, weekend and bank holiday rates, minimum visit lengths and any extra fees.

For a clearer picture of the whole process, start with our home care in London guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average hourly rate for a carer in London?

As of 2026, most London agencies charge £30–£40 an hour for weekday care, and a marketplace average puts London at about £33 an hour. The Homecare Association’s minimum sustainable price for England is £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Weekend and bank holiday rates are higher. Always ask for a written quote.

Is home care cheaper than a care home in London?

It depends on how many hours are needed. A few visits a day usually costs much less than a care home, which averages around £1,450–£1,750 a week for residential care in London. Once someone needs care most of the day and night, live-in care or a care home can cost a similar amount.

Do I have to sell my home to pay for home care?

No. When you receive care at home, the value of the home you live in is not counted in the council’s financial assessment. Only your other savings, investments and income are assessed. The rules are different if someone moves permanently into a care home.

Why do London councils pay less than private clients?

Councils buy care in large volumes and set their own rates. The Greater London council average was £21.87 an hour in 2025/26, well below the Homecare Association’s minimum price. Private clients often pay more partly because providers use private fees to keep their services running.

How much is live-in care in London per week?

As of 2026, live-in care for one person in London typically costs £1,300–£1,800 a week, and £1,600–£2,000 for a couple. Dementia or complex needs can cost £2,500 a week or more. London prices are not always higher than the UK average.

Do home care prices go up every April?

Many providers review prices in April, when the National Living Wage rises. It rose to £12.71 an hour in April 2026. The London Living Wage is reviewed each autumn, with the next rate due to be announced on 15 October 2026. Check your contract for how and when price rises are notified.

Sources

• Homecare Association: research and reports (Minimum Price for Homecare 2026/27)
• Homecare Association: response to the Low Pay Commission 2026 (council rates)
• Homecare Association: fee rates for state-funded homecare 2025/26
• Which?: paying for care at home
• Which?: care home fees
• Lottie: care at home costs
• Lottie: London home care directory
• Birdie: average private homecare rates in the UK
• Nightingales HomeCare: price list (Bromley)
• Certified Care: home care costs in 2026
• NICE QS123: length of home care visits
• DHSC: social care charging for local authorities 2026 to 2027
• DWP: benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027
• HMRC: VAT Notice 701/2 welfare services and goods
• GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
• Living Wage Foundation: London Living Wage
• GOV.UK: Council Tax discounts for disabled people

This guide is general information, not financial, legal or medical advice. Last reviewed September 2026.

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 24 September 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.