Current status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 5 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is currently taking, or plans to take, to improve financial oversight and consumer protection in relation to care home providers, in light of concerns reported by the recent BBC Disclosure programme, Cashing in on Care, regarding families seeking to recover upfront fees and care home deposits.
The Scottish Government is concerned by the reports raised in the BBC Documentary “Cashing in on Care” and sympathises with the families involved however deposit fees form part of the private contract between the provider and the individual - the Scottish Government is not a party in these contracts.
Families in Scotland can contact their local trading standards team who will investigate any breach of contract which was the issue in the cases raised in the BBC documentary. The Competition and Markets Authority - which is a statutory body and accountable to the UK Parliament - has guidance for care homes on deposits and fees. This requires care home providers to provide details of any upfront payments required, such as the amount of any deposit, how it will be protected, and refunding arrangements.
We expect all providers operating in Scotland to abide by the guidance clearly set out by the CMA fully.