For families planning ahead, or facing care now
Will the house have to be sold to pay for care?
Care homes now cost around £1,300 a week. Until home and savings fall to £23,250, most families pay the full cost themselves. Find out what care could cost your family, and what can be done about it.
Free calculators
Quick, private and no sign-up. Get a PDF report emailed to you if you want one.
Care fees calculator
Work out how much of your home and savings could go on care home fees in England, when the council would start to help and how much you'd pay from income.
CalculatorHow long will my money last?
See how long savings, and the home if it's counted, would last paying care home fees before falling to £23,250 and the council starts to help.
CalculatorWill I have to sell my house?
Answer 7 quick questions to see whether the family home is likely to count towards care home fees, and the gaps worth fixing while there's still time.
CalculatorCare fees and inheritance tax
Many families face care fees and inheritance tax. See how much the two together could take from what you leave, including pensions from April 2027.
Guides
Who pays for care home fees?
How care home fees are paid in England: the council means test, the £23,250 limit, what happens to the home and what help is available whatever your savings.
GuideWill I have to sell my house?
When the home counts towards care home fees, when it's ignored, the 12-week disregard, deferred payment agreements and why couples should look at this early.
GuideLasting power of attorney and care
What happens if a parent needs care and has lost capacity with no lasting power of attorney, deputyship through the Court of Protection, and why timing is everything.
GuideCare fees and inheritance tax
Why families with a home and savings can face care fees and inheritance tax, what changes from April 2027 with pensions, and why planning for both together matters.
GuideThe means test explained
How councils in England work out who pays for care: capital limits, tariff income, what's counted, what's ignored and the personal expenses allowance.
GuideCare fees for couples
How the means test treats couples, what happens to the home and joint savings when one partner goes into care, and why wills and ownership matter for the survivor.
Care home fees in the North East
Care home fees in Sunderland
What care homes cost in Sunderland, when Sunderland City Council helps with fees, what happens to the family home and how families in Sunderland plan ahead.
Local guideCare home fees in South Tyneside
What care homes cost in South Tyneside, when South Tyneside Council helps with fees, what happens to the family home and how families in South Shields plan ahead.
Local guideCare home fees in Newcastle
What care homes cost in Newcastle, when Newcastle City Council helps with fees, what happens to the family home and how families in Newcastle upon Tyne plan ahead.
Local guideCare home fees in Gateshead
What care homes cost in Gateshead, when Gateshead Council helps with fees, what happens to the family home and how families in Gateshead plan ahead.
Local guideCare home fees in County Durham
What care homes cost in County Durham, when Durham County Council helps with fees, what happens to the family home and how families in Durham plan ahead.
Local guideCare home fees in Northumberland
What care homes cost in Northumberland, when Northumberland County Council helps with fees, what happens to the family home and how families in Hexham plan ahead.
Real-world stories
The house that counted after 12 weeks
An illustrative story: a widowed mother moves into a care home, and her family discover after 12 weeks that her house will be used to pay the fees.
StoryThe couple who planned ahead
An illustrative story: a couple in their late sixties take advice about care fees while they're both well, and what it meant years later.
StoryThe family with no power of attorney
An illustrative story: a father with dementia needs a care home, and his children find they can't touch his bank account or his house.
StoryThe double hit
An illustrative story: a widower with a valuable home and pension pays years of care fees, and his family still face an inheritance tax bill.
Talk to a specialist
Tell us a little about your situation and a specialist will call you back, usually within one working day. No obligation, and we know these conversations can be difficult.