Home Help in Lewisham: Costs, Funding and 85 Local Agencies (Oct 2026)

What home help includes

Typical tasks are cleaning and tidying, laundry and ironing, changing beds, food shopping and collecting prescriptions, preparing meals, help with post and bills, and getting out to appointments or the shops. Many people also value the company. Home help does not include personal care such as washing, dressing or help with medication: for that you need a home care agency registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Paying for home help

Home help is usually charged by the hour, at or just below the rate for visiting care. The London Borough of Lewisham may include practical help in a care plan if a care needs assessment finds eligible needs, though help with housework alone often does not qualify. Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested, is often used to pay for it. See home help for the elderly and home help vs home care.

Agency, cleaner or council?

Many home care agencies in Lewisham provide home help as well as personal care, which is useful if needs grow. A cleaner or a local "home help" service can be cheaper for housework alone, but is not regulated by CQC. Some councils and charities run low-cost help-at-home or shopping services. Getting assessed by the London Borough of Lewisham.

Lewisham's agencies in figures

Registered specialisms here: 72 of 85 list physical disabilities, 40 of 85 list learning disabilities and 53 of 85 list mental health conditions. The share registered for dementia is 79% in Lewisham (67 of 85) and 81% across London. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, Lewisham (33% Good or Outstanding) is 5th out of 7 local towns, led by Streatham (67%). Oldest rating on the list: BM Homecare Limited, April 2018. Most recent to register: Westminster Homecare Limited - Lambeth (September 2026). Across London we list 2,452 agencies, and 89% of those rated are Good or Outstanding; covering Lewisham the figure is 62%.

How much home help costs in Lewisham

Prices typically seen in London in 2026
Visiting care	£30–£40 an hour
Sleeping night	£190–£230
Waking night	£240–£320
Live-in care	£1,300–£1,800 a week

What London Borough of Lewisham pays providers: £23.14 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,153.84 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,264.64 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).

According to the Homecare Association, councils across England should pay no less than £34.42 an hour for home care in 2026/27 if it is to be sustainable. Check what you would pay · Weekly cost calculator

Home care agencies that cover Lewisham

Ranked on CQC rating, its date and then distance. Ask each one about home help.

See all 85 agencies covering Lewisham →

What families ask about home help in Lewisham

Who provides home help in Lewisham?

Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides home help. Of the 85 registered agencies that are based in the borough of Lewisham, 28 are rated Good or Outstanding.

How much is a home help per hour in Lewisham?

Expect an hourly charge close to the local visiting care rate, sometimes slightly less for housework only. Check the minimum visit length and weekend rates before you book.

Does the council pay for home help?

Only as part of meeting eligible needs after an assessment by the London Borough of Lewisham; housework on its own rarely qualifies. Attendance Allowance, which ignores savings, is often used to pay for home help.

Is home help the same as home care?

No. Home help is practical help with housework, shopping and errands. Home care, or personal care, includes help with washing, dressing, eating and medication, and must be provided by an agency registered with the Care Quality Commission.

How good are home care agencies around Lewisham?

62% Good or Outstanding (28 of 45 rated). 10 were inspected or rated within two years, and 67 are registered for dementia.

Home help in Lewisham

What home help includes

Paying for home help

Agency, cleaner or council?

Lewisham's agencies in figures

How much home help costs in Lewisham

Home care agencies that cover Lewisham

What families ask about home help in Lewisham

Need home help in Lewisham?

More about care in Lewisham

Nearby towns for home help

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