Clear costs.
Personal care.
No unnecessary confusion.

What does care at home really cost?

When you’re looking into care at home for yourself or someone you love, one of the first questions that comes up is: “How much will this actually cost?” Across the UK, most families funding care privately can expect to pay somewhere between £26 and £38 an hour, with a typical average of around £30–£32. Live-in care often costs £1,250–£1,500 a week.

Compared with moving into a care home, staying at home can feel more personal and may offer better value when support needs are moderate. Care-home fees for self-funders frequently start at around £1,000–£1,500 a week—and can be higher for nursing care. However, residential care may not offer the same level of one-to-one, personalised attention. For this reason, many families prefer the flexibility of home care, which allows someone to remain in familiar surroundings with support tailored to them.

Hiring a carer directly can look cheaper on paper, but it means taking on all the employment responsibilities yourself—including tax, insurance, holiday cover and finding a replacement when someone is unavailable—as well as the risk of limited or no vetting. An agency handles all of that for you.

That’s why many people are pleasantly surprised when they discover House of Care Ltd. Our rates start from just £23 an hour—noticeably lower than the typical private average and many other agencies—and from £1,100 per week for live-in care, because we aim to support as many people as possible. We also keep our care teams small and consistent, so clients see the same familiar faces. This reduces disruption and helps us work efficiently without ever cutting corners on quality or warmth. Where appropriate, we also work alongside doctors, nurses and specialists to support medical continuity.

At the end of the day, the right care should feel like a genuine partnership, not just another bill. We encourage you to gather a few quotes, ask about visit lengths and any extra charges, and speak to your local authority about possible funding if that applies. When you’re ready, we’d love to chat about how House of Care can offer high-quality, personalised support at a more accessible price—so you or your loved one can stay comfortably at home without the cost feeling overwhelming.