Care home residence contract template
A care home contract sets out the terms on which a person lives in a care home: the room and type of care, what the weekly fee includes, who pays, how fees may change, the resident's rights, and how either side can end the contract. This version covers a trial period, deposit, absence, death, the 14-day right to cancel, complaints and signatures. It is completed for each new resident, with the person, room, fee and funding different each time.
Made by DocuWeave. Use at your own discretion.
What changes each time
30 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
The home and provider
- Home name
- Home address
- Provider's company name
- Company number
- CQC provider ID
- CQC location ID
- Manager's name
The resident
- Resident's full name
- Date of birth
- Representative's name and role
- Room
- Type of care
- Admission date
Fees and funding
- Weekly fee
- Who pays
- Top-up amount and payer
- Deposit
- Payment frequency
- Fee review month and index
- Extras and their prices
- Absence charge
Notice, death and cancelling
- Resident's notice period
- Trial period
- Days charged after death
- Notice for unpaid fees
- Storage of belongings
- Email or address for cancelling
Signatures
- Name of person signing for the resident
- Care home representative and position
- Date signed
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- One of several wordings
“The type of care is residential, nursing or dementia care.”
For a resident needing nursing, the contract says nursing care and includes nursing by registered nurses in what the fee covers.
- One of several wordings
“Who pays is self-funded, council-funded, council-funded with a top-up, or NHS Continuing Healthcare, and the funding clause follows.”
For a council-funded resident with a top-up, the contract names the council and the person paying the top-up.
- One of several wordings
“Fees after death are either charged for a fixed number of days or until the room is cleared, with a maximum.”
With a fixed period of three days, the contract states three days from the day after death.
- Only when…
“Include the trial period, the deposit clause and the 14-day right to cancel only if they apply.”
When a deposit is taken, the clause says where it is held and that it is returned within 28 days.
- Once for each item
“A row for each extra that is charged only if chosen, and each person who signs on the resident's behalf.”
Hairdressing and chiropody were listed, so the extras table has two rows.
Questions people ask
Do care homes have to give residents a written contract?
Care providers regulated in England must give clear information about fees and terms, and the Competition and Markets Authority's guidance on consumer law in care homes expects a written contract that is fair and transparent.
What does CMA guidance say about fee increases?
Its guidance expects increases to be explained and linked to a clear measure, with notice, and not applied in an unfair way. The contract sets a yearly review against a named index and requires notice of any change.
Can a care home keep charging after a resident dies?
Only fairly and for a limited, stated period so that belongings can be collected. The contract states the number of days or a maximum, and a refund of any advance payment.
Who can sign for a resident who cannot sign?
A person with legal authority, such as an attorney under a registered lasting power of attorney or a deputy appointed by the Court of Protection. Having a family relationship alone does not give that authority.
Can I use my own care home contract?
Yes. Upload your own Word or PDF version and DocuWeave turns it into a template in your wording, with the same kind of rules and the same filling from paperwork.
Use this template
It opens in DocuWeave as a template you can check, change and publish. Nothing is used until you do.