✧ Regional coverage
Live-in Care and Live-in Carers Across London
From Barnet to Bromley, one carer living in — so someone keeps their own home, their own street and the people around them.
- Care within a week Urgent starts often in 24–48 hours
- From £1,200 a week The same rate nationwide, not by postcode
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulates home care in England
- 100 areas Covered across London
Live-in carers in every London borough
London has more than eight million residents, and hundreds of thousands of them are over 75, many living alone in flats and terraces they have occupied for decades. Families searching for live-in care in London are usually trying to solve one problem: a parent who needs help through the day, and someone nearby at night, without moving them out of the neighbourhood they know. A live-in carer moves into the home and provides exactly that, from personal care and medication to meals, housework and company.
We arrange live-in carers across all 32 boroughs, from Westminster, Kensington and Hampstead to Croydon, Bromley, Ealing, Richmond and Enfield. Because the carer lives in rather than travelling between visits, the service is the same in Zone 1 as it is in Upminster or Uxbridge.
Why London families choose live-in care over a care home
London care home fees are among the highest in the country, and the choice of beds close to home can be limited, so moving into care often means moving boroughs. Live-in care keeps your relative where they are, with one familiar carer instead of a rota of staff. For couples it is often the clearest choice, because one carer can support both people for a single weekly fee rather than two care home places.
It also works well for people living with dementia, for whom a change of surroundings can be distressing, and for anyone coming home after a hospital stay who is not yet safe on their own.
Some families look for a private live-in carer in London by word of mouth or online. Our introductory model gives you the same direct relationship with a self-employed carer you have chosen, but with the checks, matching, replacement cover and support of an agency behind it.
London's hospitals and getting home from them
London has five NHS integrated care systems and some of the busiest hospitals in the country, from St Thomas', King's and the Royal London to St George's, the Royal Free, Northwick Park and Queen Elizabeth in Woolwich. Discharge teams need a safe plan before they can send someone home, and waiting for a care package is one of the most common reasons older Londoners stay in hospital longer than they need to. A live-in carer can often be arranged within days, and in urgent cases faster, so tell the ward as soon as you contact us.
Practical points for London homes
A live-in carer needs their own bedroom, which is the first question to settle in a smaller flat. It also helps to tell the building's managing agent or porter, sort out a key or fob, and, if your relative has a car, check visitor parking permits. The carer does not need a car to support your relative in London: buses, the Tube and a Freedom Pass cover most outings, from a walk in the park to a hospital appointment.
How much does live-in care cost in London?
Our live-in care starts from £1,200 a week for one person, with specialist care for more complex needs such as advanced dementia from £1,300, and two carers for round-the-clock waking support from £2,600. The price is the same across London and the rest of the UK, with no postcode premium. Adult social care is arranged by your relative's borough council, which offers a free needs assessment and may contribute depending on savings; NHS Continuing Healthcare is assessed separately. See our pricing and help with funding.
What you get
What a live-in carer does
Being straight about the boundaries saves everyone a difficult conversation later.
Included in the weekly fee
- Personal care — washing, dressing, continence support
- Medication prompting and administration
- Cooking, meal preparation and special diets
- Light housework, laundry and changing beds
- Shopping, errands and prescription collection
- Getting to appointments and social visits
- Companionship, conversation and daily routine
- Mobility support, transfers and falls prevention
- Pet care — walks, feeding, vet trips
- A named care manager and 24/7 office support
Not included
- Nursing tasks requiring a registered nurse (district nurses continue to visit)
- The carer's food — the household provides everyday meals
- Household bills, rent or council tax on the carer's behalf
- Two-person handling where a hoist requires two carers (that is our Advanced plan)
Weighing the options
Live-in care, visiting care or a care home?
The three choices most families are deciding between.
| Feature | Live-in care | Visiting care | Care home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stays in their own home | Yes | Yes | No |
| Support through the night | Yes | Rarely | Yes |
| The same carer each day | Yes | Rota of staff | Rota of staff |
| Keeps pets and belongings | Yes | Yes | Usually not |
| Couples stay together | Yes | Yes | Often separated |
| Typical cost | £1,200 a week | Varies with hours | Varies by home |
Visiting care and care home costs vary widely by area and provider, so we don’t quote figures we can’t stand behind. See our pricing in full →
How it works
How arranging live-in care works
Three steps, and the first one is just a conversation.
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1
Tell us what you need
A friendly, no-obligation call to understand the situation, explain how the care works and give you an estimated weekly cost.
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2
Choose your carer
We send profiles of available carers matched to your needs. You can speak to them on a video call before deciding.
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3
Care begins at home
Your carer moves in and support starts, with a named care manager checking in regularly to make sure it's working.
Funding & regulation
Paying for care in England
Home care is regulated and funded differently in each nation, so the route is not the same everywhere. Here is how it works where you live.
Read our full funding guide →Who regulates care here
Home care in England is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They inspect and register home care services to make sure standards are met.
Where funding comes from
Apply through your local authority's adult social care team. Means-tested local authority funding and NHS Continuing Healthcare are both available depending on assessed need.
How we fit in
Live-in Care Direct is an introductory agency. We introduce self-employed carers to families rather than employing them, so you contract directly with your carer and keep the choice of who provides your care.
Our carers
The carers who could support you in London
Our carers are spread across the UK, supported by regional care managers. Every one is interviewed in person, enhanced DBS checked and reference-checked before they are ever introduced to a family — and you choose who moves in.
- Interviewed face to face, never hired on paperwork alone
- Enhanced DBS checked, with references verified
- You meet and approve your carer before they start
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Patience
Live-in carer
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Brenda
Live-in carer
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Vistorine
Live-in carer
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Refiloe
Live-in carer
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Gladys
Live-in carer
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Monica
Live-in carer
Coverage
Towns and cities we cover in London
We arrange live-in care in 100 areas across London.
South East London
South and South West London
West and North West London
East London
North London
Central London
Our services
Care services available in London
Free callback
Speak to someone about care in London
Leave your number and a care manager will call you back — usually within an hour, and always free.
- No obligation. A conversation, not a sales call — and never a call centre.
- A real care manager. Someone who arranges care every day, who can answer properly.
- Just two details. Your name and number — we don’t need an email address.
Or call us now on 0800 368 8558 Lines open 8am–10pm, seven days a week
Common questions
Live-in care in London
Local answers on timing, regulation and funding.
Not seeing your question?
Our care managers answer these every day. A no-obligation call takes about ten minutes.
0800 368 8558Lines open 8am–10pm, seven days a week See all questionsDo you provide live-in carers in central London?
Yes. We arrange live-in care in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Camden, Islington and the City fringe, as well as in every outer borough. Many central London clients live in mansion flats or apartments; the only essential requirement is a private bedroom for the carer.
Are you a live-in care agency covering London?
We are an introductory agency. We find, vet and match self-employed live-in carers to London families, and you choose the carer from profiles and a video call. You then agree the arrangement with the carer directly, and we stay involved for support, replacement carers and cover for breaks.
Is live-in care in London available 24 hours a day?
A live-in carer is in the home day and night, but they need around two hours of rest each day and a proper night's sleep. If your relative wakes a few times at night, one carer can usually manage. If someone needs to be awake all night, two carers working in shifts is the safer choice.
How quickly can a live-in carer start in London?
Most London placements begin within a week of the first call. For a hospital discharge or a sudden change at home we can often introduce a carer within 24 to 48 hours, so it helps to call as soon as the ward mentions a discharge date.
Which council pays for care in London?
Each London borough runs its own adult social care service, so it is the council for your relative's address, not yours, that carries out the needs assessment. If savings are below the upper limit it may contribute. The assessment is free, and worth having even if you plan to pay privately.
Can a live-in carer look after a couple in London?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons London families choose live-in care. One carer can support both partners at home for a single weekly fee, which is usually far less than two London care home places, and nobody has to be separated from the person they have lived with for decades.
How many care homes are there in London?
Our care-home directory lists 544 registered care homes in London, each with its own page, and 418 of them are rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Together they have around 25,400 beds. Live-in care is the alternative for anyone who would rather stay in their own home: one carer moves in, and couples can stay together.