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Compare and switch your care home’s water supplier
Compare business water suppliers for care homes and see how much switching could save.
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Home / Who we help / Care homes
Last updated August 2026
Who we help
Business Water for Care Homes
A care home uses water around the clock, every day of the year. Bathing, laundry, kitchens and cleaning never stop, and the bill is one of the steadiest costs a home carries.
You can switch retailer. Care homes have had that right in England since 2017. Most never have. This page covers where care home water costs come from, how to switch retailer, and where overpayment usually hides.
| Wholesale supply | Comes from regional water companies (Thames Water, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water, and others). |
|---|---|
| Contracting | Single homes can contract directly with retailers, and groups can contract centrally across every home. |
| Biggest savings levers | Tariff reviews, leak detection and surface water drainage checks. |
| Continuity | A switch changes the billing company only. The pipes, the pressure and the supply itself stay exactly as they are. |
| Market opened | England in 2017 and Scotland in 2008. |
| Licensed retailers | Around 20 are licensed by Ofwat to supply non-household water. |
Where the money goes
Why care homes pay more for water than they should
The usual story on a care home bill is that the supply has run untouched for years because nobody wants to risk change in a building that can never lose water. A switch never touches the supply. The five checks further down are where the overpayment shows up.
Care home water use is constant and personal. Bathing and personal care run through the day, laundry runs in heavy cycles, and kitchens cater every meal. A default commercial tariff prices this steady, high-volume profile flat, and it is rarely compared once set.
Because the usage is so steady, distortions stand out if anyone looks. A creeping increase with no change in occupancy usually means a leak or a failing fitting, and an estimated billing pattern can drift a long way from actual use before it is corrected.
Where it shows up
The five areas care homes overpay
Where care homes overpay and why it matters.
A contract that has never been reviewed
Continuity of care makes managers cautious about touching utilities, so the supply runs on the same arrangement for years. A switch changes the billing company only, and the caution is better spent on checking the price.
Leaks masked by constant use
Round-the-clock usage hides slow leaks and failing fittings. Comparing usage against occupancy month by month is the quickest way to spot a distortion.
Estimated billing drifting from actual use
Estimates set in one period carry forward until actual readings correct them. Submitting regular readings keeps charges in line with the home’s real usage.
Surface water drainage on grounds and parking
Charged on the footprint by default, but how drainage is assessed depends on your regional wholesaler. Where gardens and parking drain to soakaways rather than the public sewer, the charge can be challenged, and in many wholesaler regions rebates can be backdated.
Group homes on separate default tariffs
A group running each home on its own inherited tariff leaves money on the table, as retailers can discount on a single contract with one point of contact.
Results
Case studies
Consolidated multi-site billing onto a single contract with one retailer and one point of contact.
Worth knowing
Homes, groups and who signs the contract
The water contract follows whoever holds the supply account, which in care is usually the operating company rather than the property owner. A group can contract centrally for every home it runs.
Nothing in a switch affects the supply itself, which is the point that matters most in this sector. The official market rules for business customers are published by Open Water, the body that runs the market.
The market
Can care homes switch water supplier?
Yes. England’s non-household water market opened to competition in April 2017 and Scotland’s opened in 2008, so every care home can choose a different water retailer. Wholesale supply still comes from your regional water company; only the retailer (the company that bills you and reads your meter) changes.
The 12 retailers below are all licensed by Ofwat to supply non-household water. Pricing, service and sector experience vary from retailer to retailer.
Choose your route
Routes to procurement
Three ways care operators typically bring a new water contract in. Each comes with its own trade-off between control, effort and how sharp the price lands.
Direct with a retailer
The home signs straight with a licensed retailer. Best for a single home that wants a sharper rate. You handle the comparison and the switch yourself.
Group contract across homes
Groups can put every home on one central contract with one retailer. Efficient at volume, but each home is tied to whichever retailer the group has chosen.
Broker-led market test
A water broker compares the market for you, handles the paperwork and manages the switch from start to finish. Nothing changes for residents.
Why choose The Business Water Shop
- Award-winning independent brokerage, not owned by or tied to any water retailer.
- Rated 5 stars on Google and 5 stars on Trustpilot by UK businesses.
- Experts with experience in business water for care homes and supported living operators.
- We compare quotes from up to 14 licensed retailers.
- We handle the whole switch, from the comparison and paperwork to the supplier contact.
- One point of contact for multi-property portfolios.
Questions
Care home water FAQs
Is it safe to switch supplier for a care setting?
Yes. A switch changes which company bills you and reads the meter. The regional wholesaler continues to own and operate the pipes, and the physical supply is never touched.
Do care homes pay business water rates?
Yes. Care homes are non-household customers, which is the open market we operate in. The operating company usually holds the account and chooses the retailer.
Our usage seems high for our occupancy. What should we check?
Compare the meter against occupancy month by month. A rise with no change in residents usually points to a leak, a failing fitting or an estimated billing pattern that has drifted from actual use.
Will switching disrupt anything on site?
No. A switch is paperwork rather than plumbing. There is no interruption to supply, no engineer visit and nothing changes for residents or staff.
Does laundry on site change anything?
It is one of the heaviest single uses in the building and part of why care home volumes are high. If laundry has moved on or off site since the contract started, the account is worth reviewing.
We run several homes. Can they go on one contract?
Yes. Retailers operate nationally, so a group can consolidate sites in different wholesaler regions onto a single retailer, one contract and one point of contact.
How do I get a quote?
Send a recent water bill for the home. The SPID, annual volume and current retailer are all on it. We come back within two working days with an alternative quote and a flag if anything looks worth checking on billing or drainage.
