Care Home Visiting Rules in the UK: What Are Your Rights?

By sima kornbluth · Published 2025-10-28 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

In England, care homes must by law enable residents to have visitors and must not discourage visits out, under CQC Regulation 9A. Scotland's Anne's Law gives residents a legal right to see the people important to them, including a named essential care supporter. Wales and Northern Ireland follow government guidance. Restrictions should be rare, proportionate and never stop end-of-life visits.

Care home residents have a right to see the people who matter to them. In England this is a legal requirement for care homes, set out in CQC Regulation 9A since April 2024. In Scotland, Anne's Law gives residents a legal right to visits, including from a named essential care supporter. Wales and Northern Ireland rely on government guidance.

Restrictions should be rare, short and proportionate, and visits to someone at the end of their life should always be supported.

What are the visiting rules in England?

Under Regulation 9A, a fundamental standard enforced by the Care Quality Commission since 6 April 2024, care homes must:

• make it possible for residents to receive visits from the people they want to see
• not discourage residents from going out on visits, or set unreasonable rules or paperwork for doing so
• involve residents, and people important to them, in decisions about visiting
• use the least restrictive option when there are concerns about safety

Restrictions are allowed only in exceptional circumstances, where a visit would still pose a significant risk to health, safety or wellbeing despite precautions. Any restriction must be lawful, proportionate and reviewed.

The CQC's guidance says providers should always support in-person visits to someone receiving end-of-life care.

What is Anne's Law in Scotland?

Anne's Law is named after Anne Duke, a care home resident during the pandemic whose daughter campaigned for families to be able to continue caring. It is now in legislation through the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 and the Care Home Services (Visits to and by Care Home Residents) (Scotland) Regulations 2026.

The Scottish Government's code of practice explains that:

• care homes must allow and support visiting
• residents can name one or more essential care supporters in their personal plan
• there is a legal presumption that suspending visits from an essential care supporter is likely to cause serious harm
• visits can be suspended only when essential to prevent a serious risk to life, health or wellbeing
• even then, visits must continue for residents near the end of life, or where suspending them would cause more harm than the risk

What about Wales and Northern Ireland?

In Wales, care homes follow Welsh Government guidance for care homes and are inspected by Care Inspectorate Wales. Check the latest Welsh Government guidance and ask for the home's own visiting policy.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health's visiting guidance, "Visiting With Care", sets expectations for care homes, and a Care Partners scheme recognises relatives or friends who provide essential care and support. Care homes are inspected by the RQIA.

Can a care home set visiting hours?

Homes can have sensible arrangements, such as asking visitors to avoid mealtimes or sign in for fire safety. But in England, rules must not be unreasonable or discourage visiting, and they should reflect each resident's wishes.

Good practice looks like:

• flexible visiting, including evenings and weekends
• private space for visits, including the resident's own room
• welcoming children and pets where appropriate
• help with phone or video calls for relatives who live far away
• support for residents to go out with family

When can visits be restricted?

Legitimate reasons are specific and temporary, such as:

• an infectious disease outbreak, where the home takes advice from public health teams
• a risk from a particular visitor, for example a safeguarding concern
• a resident who does not want to see a particular person

Even then, the home should look for alternatives, such as a designated visitor, outdoor visits or protective equipment, rather than a blanket ban. If your relative lacks capacity to decide who they see, decisions must be made in their best interests, involving you where appropriate.

What should I do if I am refused a visit?

1. Ask why, and ask for the reason in writing.
2. Ask what would make a visit possible, such as a different time, room or precautions.
3. Speak to the manager and refer to the rules for your nation: Regulation 9A in England or Anne's Law in Scotland.
4. Use the home's complaints procedure if it is not resolved.
5. Tell the regulator: the CQC in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, Care Inspectorate Wales or RQIA in Northern Ireland.
6. Contact the council if your relative's care is council-funded, or the safeguarding team if you think they are at risk.

The CQC does not resolve individual complaints, but it uses what families tell it when deciding where to inspect. In Scotland, the Care Inspectorate can investigate complaints about care services.

What should I ask before choosing a care home?

• What is your visiting policy? Can I see it in writing?
• Are there any times visitors cannot come?
• Can my relative go out with us whenever they like?
• In Scotland: how do you record essential care supporters?
• What happened to visiting during your last outbreak?

Frequently asked questions

Can a care home ban visitors during an outbreak?

Not with a blanket ban. In England, restrictions must be exceptional, proportionate and the least restrictive option, and in Scotland essential care supporters should normally still be able to visit. End-of-life visits should always be supported.

What is an essential care supporter?

In Scotland, it is a person named in a resident's personal plan as one of the people most important to them. Under Anne's Law, suspending their visits is presumed likely to cause serious harm, so they should be able to keep visiting in almost all circumstances.

Do care homes in England have to let residents go out?

Care homes must not discourage residents from going out on visits and must not impose unreasonable rules or lengthy processes. Where a resident lacks capacity, decisions must be made in their best interests.

Can I visit my relative at night?

Many homes are flexible, especially when someone is unwell or near the end of life. Ask the manager; in England, rules should not unreasonably limit visiting.

Who do I complain to about visiting?

Start with the care home manager and its complaints procedure. You can also tell the regulator for your nation, and, in England, take unresolved complaints to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Key takeaways

• In England, Regulation 9A makes visiting a legal requirement for care homes.
• Scotland's Anne's Law gives residents a right to visits, including essential care supporters.
• Wales and Northern Ireland follow government guidance; NI has a Care Partners scheme.
• Restrictions must be exceptional, proportionate and never stop end-of-life visits.
• If refused, ask why in writing, escalate to the manager, then complaints and the regulator.