Home care costs in Merton
Hourly and live-in rates for 2026, from the agencies that publish them. Updated as agencies confirm their prices.
There are 57 home care agencies registered with the CQC in Merton, London, and agencies based in neighbouring areas cover it too. 4 have an hourly rate on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
The typical weekday hourly rate in Merton is £25.50, so two one-hour visits a day comes to about £357 a week. The middle half of agencies charge between £24.91 and £26.75 an hour. That is close to the London average of £24.63. That is about 6% less than the England figure of £27.
Live-in care in Merton typically costs £1,400 a week, based on 4 agencies with a rate on record. Once you need more than about 35 hours a week it is usually cheaper than visits.
Of the agencies with a published rate, Best At Home (1) Southerton House in Mitcham is the least expensive at £20 an hour and Merton in New Malden the most at £29. A gap that size within one council area is normal: visit length, whether carers are employed or self-employed, and what the visit involves all move the price.
Compare with a carer you choose through PrimeCarers
About £357 a week for two one-hour visits a day
Live-in care £1,400 a week
A self-employed carer you chooseTypically £20, about £280 a week for the same visits
Your own carer could cost about £77 a week less, £4,004 over a year
Live-in care near Merton typically £1,050 a week.
PrimeCarers runs this site. Carers on it are self-employed and set their own rates. Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check within the last 2 years, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them.
Home care agencies in Merton with a rate on record
| Agency | Office | CQC | From, an hour | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your own carer through PrimeCarers For comparison. Self-employed, they set their own rate | Near Merton | Not an agency | £18 | 29% below |
| Best At Home (1) Southerton House Dementia | Mitcham | CQC: Good | £20 | 22% below |
| Homecare Southlodge Dementia · Live-in £1,300/wk | Mitcham | CQC: Good | £24.63 | 3% below |
| Home Care Service Provider Dementia | London | CQC: Good | £25 | about typical |
| Merton Dementia · Live-in £1,500/wk | New Malden | CQC: Good | £29 | 14% above |
“From” is the lowest weekday hourly rate the agency has published or confirmed to us, dated on each agency’s page. Agencies that add or correct a rate appear here within the day.
How Merton compares with nearby areas
Worth knowing: agencies based in these areas often cover Merton too.
| Council area | Hourly, weekdays | Live-in, a week | Agencies with rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merton | £25.50 | £1,400 | 4 |
| Lambeth | £28 | 3 | |
| Croydon | £25 | 5 | |
| Kingston upon Thames | £25 | £1,115 | 5 |
What the rate includes
An agency’s hourly rate in Merton pays the carer, the office that plans the rota, travel between visits, training, insurance and a margin. Weekends and bank holidays usually cost more, short visits cost more per hour, and some agencies add mileage for visits far from the office.
Ask for the full price list: weekday and weekend rates, the shortest visit they do, and the cancellation terms. Rates are reviewed once a year, usually in April.
Who pays in Merton
If you have more than £23,250 in savings you will normally pay yourself. Below that, Merton council assesses what you can contribute; your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and choose your own agency or carer.
People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole cost at home.
Full guides: who pays, and when the council helps, direct payments and Continuing Healthcare at home.
Agency or your own carer in Merton?
Self-employed carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour and set their own rates, against the typical Merton agency rate of £25.50. The same carer comes each time and you agree the hours between you. Live-in care is typically £1,050 a week near Merton.
Common questions
How much does home care in Merton cost an hour?
The typical home care agency in Merton charges £25.50 an hour on weekdays, and live-in care £1,400 a week, based on 4 agencies with a rate on record. Every agency page shows where its figure came from and when.
How much does home care in Merton cost a week?
At £25.50 an hour, one visit a day is about £179 a week, two visits a day about £357, and three about £536. Live-in care is about £1,400 a week. Most agencies raise rates once a year, in April.
What is the cheapest home care agency in Merton?
Best At Home (1) Southerton House in Mitcham has the lowest published rate we hold for Merton, from £20 an hour. The full table on this page lists every agency with a rate on record, cheapest first.
Will Merton council pay for home care?
If your savings are below £23,250, Merton council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the cost. The value of your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and spend it with the agency or carer you choose; if they charge more than the council's rate you pay the difference. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is a self-employed carer cheaper than an agency in Merton?
Usually. Carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour against the typical Merton agency rate of £25.50, and live-in care is typically £1,050 a week near Merton. You choose the carer and the same person comes each time.
Rates last checked October 2026.