Howard Lodge Care Centre
CQC Outstanding
Howard Lodge Care Centre is a residential care home in Brentwood, Essex, with 74 registered beds.
DementiaResidential
Care homes in Brentwood
Brentwood is a well-established retirement area in the East of England with a notably older population and four care homes across a range of sizes. It offers decent access to green space and social venues, though families should weigh commute times to London and wider Essex against the town's modest scale.
Average residential fee in Brentwood: £1,475/week — above the UK average of £1,279
Living in Brentwood
Low Recorded Crime
What do these badges mean?
- Low Recorded Crime — Ranks among the safer areas of its type on recorded police crime (Police.uk).
SafetyA
Excellent — safer than 84% of similar areas
Green SpacesC
Limited — parks, playing fields & outdoor space nearby
Daily ConveniencesC
Limited — shops, supermarkets & places to eat nearby
How we grade areas
Grades are relative, comparing this area against others of the same type across the UK. Amenity grades are based on OpenStreetMap counts within a fixed radius. The Safety grade ranks recorded police crime — per head of population where ONS figures are available, otherwise by total recorded crime. Figures are estimates to aid research, not a substitute for visiting an area.
Sources — crime: Police.uk, April 2026; amenities: OpenStreetMap, updated June 2026.
How care costs compare
The estimated average residential care fee in Brentwood is about £1,475/week, above the UK average of £1,279.
Estimated from published weekly fees for homes in the area. Actual costs vary by care needs and room type.
The care market in Brentwood
100% of Brentwood’s CQC-rated care homes are rated Good or Outstanding — above the national average of 79%, including 1 rated Outstanding.
Good or above in Brentwood
100%
National average
79%
CQC-rated homes
10 of 10
Of the homes in and around Brentwood, 1 offer nursing care, 2 offer dementia care and 2 offer residential care.
Based on 10 CQC-rated homes in and around Brentwood. National baseline: CQC State of Care (2024/25).
Council funding & top-up in Brentwood
The average residential care home in Brentwood costs about £1,475/week, while Essex’s published usual rate is around £849/week (2025). If you qualify for council funding, expect a likely third-party top-up of about £626/week (≈ £32,552/year) to bridge the gap.
Average fee in Brentwood
£1,475/wk
Essex usual rate
£849/wk
Likely top-up gap
£626/wk
Estimate only. Councils fund care only when the person’s assets are below the means-test threshold, and actual fees, funding and top-ups vary by home, room and assessed needs. Compares the area average against Essex’s published usual cost of residential care (2025).
Care homes in Brentwood on the map
- Outstanding
- Good
- Requires improvement
Care homes (1)
updated September 2026
Top-rated in Brentwood
Rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission — the CQC’s highest rating.
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What care costs in Brentwood
Residential (avg)
£1,475/week
Dementia (avg)
£1,475/week
Nursing (avg)
£1,475/week
Wondering if that’s cheaper than staying put? Compare a care home with care at home, or see who pays.
House prices in Brentwood
The average house price in Brentwood is £513,537, based on HM Land Registry data. The graph shows sold-price trends by property type over the last 30 years.
Average price by property type
- All property types
- £513,537
- Detached
- £979,724
- Semi-detached
- £547,154
- Terraced
- £428,473
- Flats & maisonettes
- £264,471
Source: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, to Jun 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Figures are area averages for the wider local authority, not retirement properties specifically.
Types of care in Brentwood
Residential care homes
2 in BrentwoodResidential care homes provide help with everyday living in a safe, sociable setting — the right choice when someone needs support day to day but not round-the-clock nursing.
Nursing homes
1 in BrentwoodNursing homes provide everything a residential home does, plus registered nurses on site 24 hours a day — for people with ongoing or complex health needs.
Dementia care homes
2 in BrentwoodSpecialist dementia care homes provide trained staff and a carefully designed, calm environment for people living with dementia — supporting safety, routine and wellbeing.
Respite care
1 in BrentwoodRespite care is a short stay in a care home — to give a family carer a break, or to help someone recover after a hospital stay.
Safety
16 crimes reported in April 2026, sourced from Police.uk.
- Anti-social behaviour5
- Other theft4
- Violent crime3
- Vehicle crime2
Is Brentwood a good retirement location?
Brentwood suits families looking for a smaller, quieter retirement setting with an above-average concentration of older residents — a sign the area is geared toward later life. All four local care homes are rated Good by the CQC, and homes range from 40 to 110 beds, so there is a choice of scale. It is not a major urban centre, so access to specialist services and cultural venues will depend partly on travelling to nearby larger towns or London.
Health & support
- Medical access: You will need to check GP availability locally and distance to A&E; nearby Essex hospitals will be your closest major emergency services.
- Safety: Recorded crime is low, at 16 offences in the period measured, with anti-social behaviour and other theft as the most common categories.
- Family & connection: Consider how close your family network is to Brentwood, and whether regular visits will be practical given distances to London or other major centres.
Finances & daily life
- Cost of care: You will need to obtain fees from individual homes; compare them against the national average to judge affordability for your circumstances.
- Transport: Brentwood has bus services and rail links to London and other parts of Essex; how car-dependent day-to-day life feels will depend on your mobility and which part of town a home is in.
- Housing options: Four care homes are listed locally, all rated Good, with bed counts ranging from roughly 40 to 110, giving a modest range of choice.
Lifestyle & environment
- Green space & hobbies: Six parks and four allotments are available locally, plus a small number of restaurants, cafes and pubs for social outings.
- Community: Check with individual homes about on-site or nearby social groups, memory cafés and visitor facilities — these vary by home.
- Climate: The East of England tends to be drier and cooler than southern regions; expect a fairly temperate UK climate with chilly winters.
Things to weigh up
- Choice of homes: With only four homes listed, you have less choice than in larger retirement hubs; early visits and comparison are important.
- Distance to major services: Specialist medical, dental and cultural services will likely require travel to larger towns or London, which may affect frequency of access.
Common questions
How many care homes are there in Brentwood?
There are 12 care homes listed in and around Brentwood on AskBart. You can filter them by care type, CQC rating and facilities to find the right fit.
How much does a care home in Brentwood cost?
Care homes in Brentwood range from around £1,475 per week, with averages of £1,475 for residential, £1,475 for dementia, £1,475 for nursing care. Fees vary by home, care type and the level of support required.
How do care home fees in Brentwood compare to the national average?
The average residential care fee around Brentwood is about £1,475 per week — above the UK average of £1,279. Individual fees depend on the home, room and level of care.
Which care homes in Brentwood are rated Outstanding or Good by the CQC?
10 of the 12 care homes in and around Brentwood are rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, including 1 rated Outstanding. Ratings are published by the CQC following regular inspections.
What types of care are available in Brentwood?
Homes in and around Brentwood offer dementia (2), residential (2), nursing (1), respite (1). Availability varies by home — use the filters above to find homes offering the specific care type you need.
How many care homes in Brentwood offer dementia care?
2 care homes in and around Brentwood offer specialist dementia care. Use the dementia filter above to see them, and check each home's CQC report for its record on caring for people living with dementia.
Do any care homes in Brentwood offer respite care?
Yes — 1 care home in and around Brentwood offer respite (short-stay) care, for recovery after a hospital stay or to give a regular carer a break. Availability changes often, so contact the home directly to check.
How safe is the Brentwood area?
Brentwood is graded A for safety on AskBart — safer than 84% of similar areas. This is drawn from police-recorded crime data and compared against similar areas.
Can I get council funding for care in Brentwood?
If the person needing care has savings and assets below £23,250, Essex Council may contribute towards fees. You can request a free care needs assessment and financial assessment through the council's adult social care team before choosing a home.
What's included in a care home's weekly fees in Brentwood?
A care home's weekly fee in Brentwood usually covers accommodation, all meals, day-to-day personal care, housekeeping, laundry and activities. Extras such as hairdressing, chiropody, outings and one-to-one care are often charged separately, so ask each home for a full breakdown of what is and isn't included.
What's the difference between residential and nursing care?
Residential care homes help with everyday personal care — washing, dressing, meals and prompting medication. Nursing homes provide the same support plus a qualified nurse on site around the clock for residents with ongoing medical needs. Homes in Brentwood may offer one or both, so check each listing for the care types it provides.
Could the NHS pay for care in Brentwood?
If a person's needs are primarily health-related rather than social, they may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which can fully fund a care-home placement regardless of their savings. Eligibility is decided by the local NHS integrated care board after an assessment — it's separate from means-tested council funding.
How do I choose a care home in Brentwood?
Start by shortlisting homes in Brentwood by the type of care needed and their CQC rating, then visit in person. On a visit, read the home's latest CQC report, ask about staffing levels and fees, and see how residents are supported day to day. AskBart lists each home's rating, facilities and fees so you can compare before arranging a visit.
Who regulates care homes in Brentwood?
Care homes in Brentwood are regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. The CQC rates each home as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate following regular inspections — you can read each home's latest report on the CQC website.
What other nearby areas have care homes in Essex?
If you're widening your search beyond Brentwood, nearby areas with care homes include Basildon, Benfleet, Braintree, Buckhurst Hill and Canvey Island. You can browse each from the list of nearby locations on this page.
Weighing up your options in Brentwood?
Care needs change over time. Compare the other kinds of later-life care in Brentwood:
Talk to a Brentwood care expert.
Our independent advisors know the local homes inside out. Get free, friendly guidance with no obligation — just clear answers when you need them.