The 12-Week Property Disregard Explained (2026)

When someone moves into a care home permanently, the council must ignore the value of their home for the first 12 weeks. This "12-week property disregard" gives families time to decide what to do about the home, without being forced to sell it in a hurry.

What the rule says

Under the Care Act, a council in England must disregard the value of a person's main or only home for 12 weeks:

• when they first move into a care home as a permanent resident; or
• when another property disregard ends unexpectedly, because the partner or relative who was living in the home has died or has moved into a care home themselves.

The council can also choose to apply it when someone's money changes suddenly and unexpectedly, for example after an unexpected debt or a fall in share prices.

Who it helps most

The disregard makes the biggest difference to someone whose savings are below the upper limit (£23,250 in England in 2026/27) but whose home would take them over it. For those 12 weeks they are assessed on their savings and income alone, so the council helps with the cost of their care, and they pay a contribution from their income and any savings above £14,250.

When the home isn't counted at all

The home is not counted at all, for as long as they live there, if certain people still live in it, including a husband, wife or partner, or a relative who is aged 60 or over or is disabled. If one of those people then dies or moves into a care home, the 12-week disregard starts.

If the stay in the care home is temporary, the home is usually not counted either, because the person is expected to return home.

What happens when the 12 weeks end

After 12 weeks, the value of the home is normally counted. If it takes someone over the upper limit, they will usually be expected to pay the full cost of their care. There are three main options:

• Sell the home and use the money to pay for care.
• Rent it out and use the rent towards the fees.
• Ask the council for a deferred payment agreement. The council pays some of the care costs and is paid back later, usually when the home is sold. A council must offer one to someone who meets the qualifying criteria and can give it security on the home.

Sources

• Care and support statutory guidance, Annex B: treatment of capital (GOV.UK)
• Paying for your own care (NHS)