To ask for advice?

[bendy75]

To cut a very long story short.......Mum passed away on New Years Eve, for the last seven months of her life she lived in a care home at a cost of £6600 per month (self funding), the care home was paid by direct debit monthly in advance.
We received the grant of probate mid April and are currently settling her affairs and noticed payment for January 2023 @ £6600 had been taken (understandable due to date of death/time to cancel direct debit).
I rang them to query this and was told no funds would be returned as her room was not able to be immediately filled and this was standard practice, they are also not returning the security deposit of £1200 due to the room needing redecorating.
Do you think it would be unreasonable to pursue this, or is this just the norm?

I would expect to pay for the room until you emptied her stuff out of it. They are having a laugh at £1200 to redecorate a room. I would speak to citizens advice or age UK.

Afraid it is common for them to charge but check your contract. I had a care home try this on when the contract didn’t allow them to charge a full month. If you don’t have a contract, get a friend to ‘enquire’ on behalf of an imaginary parent and get a copy of the contract.

We were there when she passed away and waited with her while she was collected, we took her clothes and possessions with us the same day (so much of her stuff had already gone missing while she was in there) so the room was emptied the same day.

Check the contract. I'd have thought if it was a case of giving up the room to move out then notice would be needed, but in this case it's harsh to charge! Also, check the contract for what the £1200 was for and the criteria for it being returned. 7 months living there and them keeping that also sounds harsh.

The £6600 kind of feels like it could well be in line with the contract. I think the £1200 for redecoration after 7 months seems like they are trying it on, presumably your mother didn’t graffiti the walls or otherwise trash the place.

Agreed regarding the deposit. Fight for that, they are trying their luck. Arseholes.

Every home is different but it operates the same as any tenancy - you pay until all signs of your occupancy have been vacated.

Don't know if this applies but I assume the 6.6k covers more than just room rental? So caring etc. if she isn't there to be cared for then Tbey surely are taking the piss Charging for that? Maybe a nominal amount for tbr room but seems a bit cheeky

I would assume they will still charge for caring because they still need to pay their staff.

Nice little earner that, holding on to £1200 to decorate. Surely general maintenance is part & parcel of owning a business
I'd really argue your point @bendy75
I'm sorry for ýour loss

I work in a lovely care home and the rooms get trashed quite a lot from various things but more often then not it's the moving equipment (like hoists wheelchairs and bed scuffing the walls every time the staff have to move things).
It can also be residents throwing food and drinks, or even flinging or smearing... stuff! Curtains can get trashed pretty easily too. But even with all that it is NEVER much money to fix. £30 for new curtains and the Handy man gets out a tin of emulsion. That's it. We don't charge for damage even when it is intentional by the resident. It's part and parcel of caring for the elderly because dementia is a bitch and the care homes cost an effing arm and a leg.

You should absolutely fight this, especially as they would have been able to re-let that room in a matter of days.

I believe it's standard practice for pay for 1 month after death. This will be in the contract and it allows the family adequate time to collect the belongings.