The guidance makes clear how the CMA will decide whether care homes are treating residents and their representatives fairly and addresses many of the issues we have highlighted in our previous briefings (see the bottom of this article for links to these). The CMA has considered the wider process, where providers engage with potential residents and their representatives; from the point of first contact through to how the contractual relationship is managed and what happens when the residents move out or pass away.
The CMA and Trading Standards have a wide variety of powers available to them in situations where they believe that providers are in breach of consumer law. This includes bringing court proceedings to stop infringements, seeking compensation on behalf of residents and, in some cases, bringing criminal prosecutions. In addition, residents may be able to seek damages in the Courts and unfair terms will not be enforceable against them or their representatives.
We have already seen several providers come under scrutiny and agree variations to their contracts (in accordance with the CMA’s instructions):
The CMA continues to scrutinise contracts and take enforcement action. Whilst it is the Courts that ultimately decide whether consumer law has been breached, the guidance sets out the new regulatory landscape for consumer protection in the care sector and provides a clear explanation where investigative action will be taken, or prosecutions brought. Those providers who are in the process of communicating fee reviews to their residents should tread carefully and check whether their contract terms support the changes that are proposed.
We will be running a series of workshops in the new year which are designed to take delegates through the guidance, discuss whether the Courts might take a different approach to the CMA and to share examples of good practice when developing your customer contracts.
The full guidance and summary notes are available here.
If you would like further information regarding this e-briefing, or for any enquiries relating to residential care, please contact Emma Watt.
Previous residential care contracts e-briefings:
Residential care contracts - consumer rights and the cost of charging fees in advance
In 2020 the court rules were changed to require that all residential tenants must be given 14 days’ notice of an eviction. What happens though if the eviction is cancelled on the day?
We are delighted to announce that our private wealth law department has continued to maintain its Band 2 position in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners High Net Worth.
The new CHF is set to launch and open for applications with £4 million set to be allocated to community-led housing groups to support an increase the supply of affordable housing in England.
Charities, like other organisations, may be subject to or choose to voluntarily comply with the reporting requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The draft regulations making it mandatory for anyone entering a registered care home in England to have been double vaccinated unless they are clinically exempt were made on 22 July 2021.
In the Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper, the Government signalled its desire to increase its control over procurements by all contracting authorities.
The monthly round-up from the Anthony Collins Solicitors charities team.
Legal updates as the UK enters into stage 4 of the roadmap and legal restrictions on face coverings and social distancing are lifted.
The first disability we are going to discuss is diabetes. We begin by discussing the different types of diabetes; their similarities and differences and how we live with the disability within our day.
Tim Coolican and Freya Cassia explore the legal and practical options available to providers if a disappointing result is received following an inspection.
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