How much does live-in care cost in the UK?
Live-in care costs in the UK typically range from £900 to £1800 per week. At Novus Care, our weekly fees start at £1119.
The exact price depends on your individual circumstances. All our care is tailored to you, and you can choose the level of support that’s right for your needs and lifestyle.
Your fee comes with no hidden costs or registration charges. The price on your care agreement is the price you pay. That gets you a fully managed care service, including:
• Transparent weekly pricing
• One-to-one tailored care in your home
• Support from a friendly, highly trained carer
• A care management team on hand to help 24/7
Live-in care costs at Novus Care
Here’s a quick guide to the cost of live-in care at Novus Care.
Note that these are starting prices. The price you actually pay may vary depending on your individual care needs.
| Single Person | Starts from £1199 per week |
| Couple | Starts from £1499 per week |
| Respite Care (minimum of 2 weeks) | Starts from £1250 per week |
| Complex Care | Starts from £1500 per week |
Live-in care for a single person
This option might suit you if you live alone or if there’s only one person in the household who needs care. We’ll work with you to create a tailored care plan and then send a friendly carer to live with you at home. They’ll be there around the clock, offering as little or as much help as you need. It’s all about giving you the right support to stay as independent as possible.
Starts at £1199 per week.
Live-in care for couples
Couples’ live-in care works similarly to live-in care for a single person: you’ll live with your carer, so you can both get around-the-clock care. It’s a cost-effective choice for couples who both need support. That’s because you only pay one weekly fee to cover care costs for both of you. In a care home, you’d each have to pay separate fees.
Even though it’s a couples’ care service, our care is still tailored to the individual – even if you each have different care needs.
Starts at £1499 per week.
Live-in respite care
Everyone needs a break from time to time, including carers. Our live-in respite care service lets them recharge their batteries while we step in to support you.
At £1250 per week (starting cost), it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. Like all our care services, it includes tailored, one-to-one support from trained carers, so you’ll both know all your care needs are covered.
Starts at £1250 per week.
Complex care
Complex care is specialised care for any health condition that requires ongoing clinical support. You’ll get around-the-clock care from a specially trained carer who’ll work closely with your healthcare team to make sure you receive the best possible support. Our carers are trained to assist people with many complex conditions, including brain injuries, motor neurone disease and late-stage dementia.
While complex care at home costs more than traditional live-in care, it provides a level of comfort and one-to-one support that’s not possible with residential care.
Starts at £1500 per week.
What’s included in the costs of live-in care?
At Novus Care, our care fees are all-inclusive. That means no hidden costs, registration fees or unexpected charges. While final costs vary depending on your care needs, the price on your care agreement is the price you’ll pay.
Here’s what you get for your weekly care fee.
| One-to-one care | Tailored support | Help around the house |
|---|---|---|
| Live-in care means getting one-to-one care from a trained carer in your own home. That level of support and companionship isn’t possible with residential care. | Our care is tailored to you and designed to support your independence. Your carer can provide as little or as much help as needed, so you can make the most of life at home and in the community. | A helping hand at home can make it easier to do more of the things you love. Our carers can help with housekeeping, preparing meals, looking after pets and other day-to-day jobs. |
| Condition-led care | Companionship | Care management team |
| We build our care around your individual health needs, as well as personal preferences. We can help administer medication, support your mobility, pick up prescriptions and more. | We employ carers based on their personality, as well as their skills. We’ll match you with a carer who shares your interests and outlook on life, so you’ll love spending time with them. | As a fully managed care provider, we work hard to make sure you receive the best possible care. Our expert care management team is available 24/7 to support you. |
What can affect the costs of live-in care?
Live-in care costs aren’t the same for everybody. That’s because we tailor our care to the individual, and everyone has different care needs.
It’s all about providing the right level of care for you. We want you to enjoy the best possible quality of life while being in control of the support you receive.
So, the price you pay can vary depending on several factors. These include:
• Who needs care: the cost of home care for couples is typically more affordable than care for one person. That’s because you pay one fee to cover care for both people.
• Your care needs: some people simply need more support, while others require specialist support for complex health conditions. The level of support and type of care can both affect care costs.
• Respite vs long-term care: long-term care is more affordable on a week-by-week basis than respite care.
Why choose Novus Care for live-in care?
At Novus Care, we truly care – about you, your family and the quality of care you receive.
We’re a fully managed, CQC-regulated care agency that provides care services in every town and village in England. When you choose us, you can expect:
• Transparent pricing: costs are all-inclusive, so the price on your care agreement is the price you pay.
• Highly trained carers: our carers are employed directly by us and undergo regular training to keep care standards high.
• 24/7 support: you’ll have an expert care management team on hand to support you at all hours.
• Regulated care: we’re registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission. For you, that means the peace of mind that you’re receiving the best possible care.
Fully managed care vs introductory care agencies
Being a fully managed care agency means we manage every aspect of your care, from the carers we employ to planning your day-to-day support.
You might also come across introductory care agencies. These agencies don’t employ their own carers. Instead, they charge a fee to introduce you to a self-employed carer.
Live-in care costs are often cheaper with an introductory agency. However, you won’t get the same managed service – and there are often other differences to consider.
Here’s a comparison to help you understand those differences.
| Fully managed care from Novus Care | Introductory agencies |
|---|---|
| We manage every aspect of your care, from creating your care plan to overseeing day-to-day support. | The agency introduces you to a carer, but you or your family generally manage the ongoing care arrangements. |
| We employ all our carers directly. | Carers are generally self-employed or work directly with the client rather than being employed by the agency. |
| We make sure carers receive ongoing training and maintain high standards. | Agencies may screen carers and check their qualifications, but they’re usually not responsible for ongoing training. |
| You get 24/7 support from a care management team. | Ongoing management support isn’t typically included. You deal directly with your carer if you need to make changes or raise concerns. |
| If your carer can’t cover a shift, we find a replacement for you. | You may need to arrange alternative cover yourself. |
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home?
Self-funded residential care in the UK costs around £1300 per week on average, rising to around £1535 for nursing care (carehome.co.uk, 2026). However, individual care homes can charge considerably more depending on their location, facilities and the level of support required.
At Novus Care, our weekly live-in care costs start from £1199. That makes our prices competitive compared to many care homes.
And depending on your circumstances, live-in care could be much more cost-effective than residential care. For instance, if you’re a couple who live together and you both need support, you’ll pay one fee to cover both of your care needs. If you both moved into a care home, you’d usually each have to pay a separate weekly fee.
The benefits of live-in care vs residential care
There are many reasons to choose live-in care besides the cost.
For many people, the biggest benefit is simply that they can stay at home. After all, home is where the heart is – and leaving it behind can be very distressing.
But there are lots more benefits that come with that. We’ve covered some of these in the table below.
| Live-in care | Residential care |
|---|---|
| You stay in the home you love. | You have to move into a dedicated care home. |
| You can enjoy familiar surroundings and your own routine. | It’s an unfamiliar setting where meal times and activities are fixed. |
| You get one-to-one care from a carer who feels like a trusted companion. | Support is provided by many carers and shared between residents. |
| Support is personalised to you. | It’s difficult for care homes to provide the same level of personalised care. |
| Family and friends can visit as often as they like. | Care homes sometimes have strict visiting hours. |
| You can keep beloved pets. | Care homes aren’t always pet-friendly. |
How can I fund the cost of home care?
There are two main ways to fund care.
Some people self-fund their care. This is where you or your family pays care costs out of pocket or using savings.
Alternatively, you might qualify for financial support to fund care. For instance, your local council may be able to contribute towards the cost of live-in care depending on your financial circumstances. Some people also qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which provides free care for those with certain complex health needs.
We know understanding how to fund care can be daunting. That’s why we’ve created a complete guide to funding home care.
Live-in care costs: your questions answered
What is live-in care?
Live-in care services provide 24/7 support in your own home. A carer will come to live in your home in a spare room. And while they’ll take occasional breaks, they’ll otherwise be available around the clock to support you. That support could range from helping around the house to assisting with medication or complex health needs.
The important thing is that you get the right care while staying in the familiar surroundings of the home you love. For many people, live-in care is a real and cost-effective alternative to moving into a care home.
What is the average cost of live-in care in the UK?
UK live-in care costs can vary. It can depend on the agency you choose, the level of care you need, your living arrangement and where you live in the UK.
As a rough guide, care costs for a single person tend to range from £900 to £1800 per week.
Does the cost of home care vary across the UK?
Yes – generally speaking, care at home costs more in some regions of the UK than others. Care agencies in London, for instance, charge more on average than those in Yorkshire or the East Midlands (TrustedCare, 2025).
That’s not the case with Novus Care, though. We use the same pricing structure across all our local branches. So, while our prices may change based on your individual needs, where you live isn’t part of the equation.
How much does live-in care cost per week at Novus Care?
Our live-in care costs start at £1199 per week for a single person, £1499 for a couple and £1500 for complex care. Please note, however, that these are starting prices. The final price may change depending on your individual needs and circumstances.
What is the cost of live-in care for elderly people?
Your age doesn’t directly affect our care prices. Instead, we work with you to create a care plan that meets your individual requirements and base our pricing on that.
In other words, it’s all about your needs, not your age. A younger person and an older person with exactly the same needs would pay exactly the same price.
Does Novus Care charge registration or introductory fees?
No. Unlike introductory agencies, we don’t charge introductory fees because we manage and employ all our carers ourselves. We pride ourselves on our transparent pricing, and we’ll never surprise you with hidden costs. And if our prices change, we’ll let you know in advance.
Sometimes, a person’s care needs change, and we need to adjust our pricing to reflect that. If that happens, we’ll discuss it with you or your family.
Where does Novus Care provide live-in care?
We provide live-in care services in all towns and villages across England. No matter where you live, you’ll be supported by a local care branch and a 24/7 care management team.
How to arrange live-in care
Are you ready to book a live-in care trial? Do you have questions about our live-in care service or how our pricing works? We’re here to help. Get in touch with our team to chat about your care needs today on 0800 138 4030 or email: [email protected]
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Cost of Visiting Care
How much does visiting home care cost?
At Novus Care, our carers can help provide you or a loved one compassionate, dedicated care and support at home from just 30 minutes per week up to several times a day together with overnight care and support. Everyone’s needs are completely different and visiting care is arranged around what you require. You can increase or reduce your visits as and when your care needs change.
Our visiting home care costs start from only £23.00 per hour
Call us today on 0800 138 4030 or email: [email protected]
Everyone’s care needs are completely different. To get a quote for your specific care needs call one of our care specialist advisors who will be able to give you a home care cost estimate over the phone.
We understand home care costs can be confusing which is why we can advise you on the funding options available, either from your local authority or through continuing healthcare funding with the NHS.
Find our more about our home care services here. To arrange a FREE care assessment or for an informal chat call our care team on 0800 138 4030 or email: [email protected]
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Care you can trust
We are committed to investing in systems, training and procedures to ensure that we are able to deliver a superior level of service which is timely and reliable.
In addition to first class carers we have a strong home care management team in place which is dedicated to ensuring that all of our clients and their families are happy with the service being provided.
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