Home care agencies in Surrey usually charge by the visit rather than a flat hourly fee. At Aims Homecare, a one-hour visit starts from £28, a 45-minute visit from £25 and a 30-minute visit from £22, and the same rate applies seven days a week, with no weekend or bank-holiday premiums. Prices vary between agencies with visit length, care needs and timing, so always ask for the full rate card.
If you are comparing agencies for a parent or partner, the honest answer is that “per hour” is only half the picture. What you actually pay depends on how long each visit is, how many visits a week you need, and whether an agency adds premiums for evenings, weekends or bank holidays. This guide sets out real published prices, what tends to move them up or down, and the funding help many Surrey families do not realise they can claim.
What do home care visits cost in Surrey in 2026?
These are Aims Homecare’s published rates, the same seven days a week:
| Visit type | Price |
|---|---|
| 30-minute visit | from £22 |
| 45-minute visit | from £25 |
| 1-hour visit | from £28 |
| Sleeping night (10pm–7am) | from £150 per night |
| Waking night (10pm–7am) | from £29 per hour |
| Live-in care | from £225 per 24 hours |
Two worked examples make the weekly cost easier to picture. One hour of support every day, help with washing, dressing and breakfast, say, comes to £196 a week. Two 30-minute visits a day, morning and evening, comes to £308 a week. Live-in care, where a care professional lives in the home, works out at around £1,575 a week at the from-rate. You can see the full breakdown of our home care prices on our pricing page.
Why do hourly rates vary between agencies?
Four things move the price more than anything else.
Visit length. Shorter visits cost more per hour than longer ones, because travel and handover time is spread over fewer minutes of care. A 30-minute visit at £22 is a higher hourly rate than a one-hour visit at £28, which is why the right visit length for your family matters more than the headline hourly figure.
When care happens. Many agencies charge more for evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Some do not: Aims charges the same rate every day of the week. Ask directly, because a rate card that looks cheaper on a Tuesday morning can be dearer by Sunday.
The level of care needed. Support with medication, moving and handling, or dementia care can sit at a higher rate than companionship and housekeeping, because it needs more training and more careful planning.
Regulated agency or introduction service. When you search for a care agency near you, both kinds appear side by side. A Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated agency employs, trains, insures and supervises its care workers. Introduction agencies that match self-employed carers can look cheaper per hour, but you take on more of the responsibility yourself. You can check any provider’s registration on the CQC website.
How does hourly care compare with live-in care or a care home?
For a few visits a day, hourly care is usually the more economical option, and it keeps someone in their own home. Once care is needed across most of the day, live-in care, from £225 per 24 hours, around £1,575 a week, often becomes better value than stacking up individual visits, and it still means staying home.
Residential care is priced differently again. According to carehome.co.uk’s 2026 fees data, the average self-funded care home place in South East England costs £1,446 a week for residential care and £1,706 a week where nursing is included, before extras, and whether or not care is needed around the clock. Set against that, two half-hour visits a day comes to £308 a week, and even full live-in care at around £1,575 a week compares well, with the added difference that at home you only pay for the care you actually use. Surrey County Council’s Care Cost Indicator shows typical figures for local homes, and our live-in care page sets out how the 24-hour option works.
What help is available with the cost?
You do not have to work this out alone, and you may not have to pay all of it yourself.
A council needs assessment. Surrey County Council’s adult social care team will assess what help is needed, the assessment itself is free, whatever your finances. Whether the council contributes to the cost is then means-tested: for 2026/27 the thresholds are set nationally at £23,250 (above this you fund your own care) and £14,250 (below this, income but not capital is counted). You can start an assessment at surreycc.gov.uk/adults or by phoning 0300 200 1005, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Attendance Allowance. For people over State Pension age who need help with personal care, this is worth £76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27, and it is not means-tested, so savings and income do not affect it. It is worth checking even if you assume you would not qualify. Details are on gov.uk.
NHS Continuing Healthcare. Where someone has long-term, complex health needs, the NHS can fund their care in full, and that care can be provided at home, which many families do not realise. Eligibility rests on assessed needs, not on diagnosis. The NHS guide explains the assessment process.
For impartial help with the money side, MoneyHelper is government-backed and free, and Age UK Surrey and Citizens Advice can help with benefits checks. Because the council’s financial assessment looks at your own circumstances, treat every figure here as a guide rather than a quote. Our funding support page walks through each route in more detail.
How do I work out what we would actually pay?
Start with the week, not the hour. Sketch out a typical week, which tasks, at which times of day, and price that, because it is the weekly figure that has to fit the budget. Then ask each agency you speak to for their full rate card in writing, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays, any minimum visit length, and what notice you need to change or stop care. A good agency will also tell you honestly if you are buying more care than you need, starting with a couple of visits a day and adjusting is completely normal.
Frequently asked questions
Do home care agencies charge more at weekends?
Many do, weekend and bank-holiday premiums are common, and they can add noticeably to a weekly bill. Aims Homecare charges the same rates seven days a week, with no weekend or bank-holiday premiums, so the weekly figure you calculate is the weekly figure you pay.
Is the home care assessment free?
Yes, twice over. The council’s needs assessment is free regardless of your finances, and Aims Homecare’s own home assessment, where we visit, discuss what would help and give you an exact quote, is free and carries no obligation to go ahead.
How quickly can home care start?
Once you get in touch, Aims can usually have care in place within 24 to 48 hours of your free home assessment. Hospital discharges are often arranged at short notice, so do say if you are working to a deadline set by a discharge team.
What is the difference between a sleeping night and a waking night?
On a sleeping night, the care professional sleeps at the home from 10pm to 7am and helps if needed, from £150 a night. On a waking night, they stay awake throughout to provide support, from £29 an hour. Which suits depends on how often help is needed overnight.
Is home care cheaper than a care home?
Often, yes. The average self-funded care home in South East England costs £1,446 a week for residential care, or £1,706 with nursing, according to carehome.co.uk’s 2026 data. Two 30-minute visits a day comes to £308 a week, and full live-in care around £1,575, while staying in your own home.
If you would like a proper number rather than a “from” price, we are happy to visit, talk through what would help and give you an exact written quote, a free home assessment, with no obligation, and an honest steer if we think a different kind of support would suit better. Call 01372 386222 or contact us online.
This article is general information, not advice about your own situation. Care costs, council funding and benefits depend on individual circumstances, please speak to Surrey County Council’s adult social care team, MoneyHelper or an independent adviser about yours.
Last reviewed: 4 August 2026. Written by Sharon Draper, Aims Group Manager, Aims Homecare. Reviewed by Shazad Hashmi, Nominated Individual, BA (Hons). Next review: April 2027.