Can the council take my house to pay for care fees in the UK?
Where a link is marked *, it is a partner link — we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * earn us nothing. How we make money.
In short: Not in the literal sense. The local authority means-tests your assets when you enter residential care. Above the upper capital limit (£23,250 in England) you pay in full; your home is included unless a spouse, dependent child, or relative aged 60+ still lives there.
Last reviewed:
Reviewed by Kaiser Khan
If you receive care at home (not residential), the value of your home is always disregarded. Only other capital and income count.
On entering residential care, a 12-week property disregard normally applies at the start to give time to plan. After that, the home is counted unless a qualifying relative still lives there.
A 'Deferred Payment Agreement' lets you delay paying the home's contribution by securing it against the property — the council recovers the amount (with modest interest) when the property is eventually sold, usually after death.
Primary source: gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance
Part of our Family & care
This quick answer sits inside our wider family & care hub — with sub-guides, calculators and step-by-step explainers on the same topic.
Read the full family & care guide →