Sector guide
20 obligations that are typically legally required, 22 in all — with the legislation, renewal frequency and penalties behind each.
Running a care home means answering to more regulators than almost any other UK business: the CQC on registration and inspection, the HSE and fire authority on the premises, environmental health on the kitchen — plus insurers who expect every certificate to be current.
This guide lists the obligations that typically apply to a care home in England & Wales, what the law actually says, how often each renews, and what enforcement can look like — so nothing is tracked in one person’s head, or missed entirely.
The duties that generally apply to premises like yours under UK law, with what enforcement can look like.
Food Information Regulations 2014 (EU 1169/2011); Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 (Natasha's Law)
Enforced by local authority EHOs/Trading Standards: improvement notices and, on conviction, an unlimited fine; product withdrawal/recall where unsafe.
Health & Social Care Act 2008
Deregistration, enforcement action, criminal prosecution
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989; HSW Act 1974
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
GBP 2,500 per day without it; GBP 1,000 for not displaying certificate
Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations
Unlawful to let with F or G rating; fines vary
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Enforced under the RRFSO 2005.
Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981; HSW Act 1974
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 Annex II Ch. XII
Enforced by local authority EHOs: inadequate training contributes to enforcement (improvement notices; unlimited fine on conviction) and lowers the Food Hygiene Rating.
Food Safety Act 1990, EC 852/2004
Closure notices, unlimited fines, imprisonment
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 Art.5; Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013
Enforced by local authority EHOs: improvement notices, hygiene emergency prohibition (closure); on conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999; HSW Act 1974
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
HSW Act 1974; COSHH 2002; ACoP L8
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974 and COSHH 2002: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (reg.12); Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001; Medicines Act 1968
CQC enforcement under Regulation 12 (warning notices, conditions, suspension/cancellation, prosecution).
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992; HSW Act 1974; LOLER 1998 (hoists)
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989; HSW Act 1974
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013; HSW Act 1974
Failure to report is a criminal offence: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Care Act 2014 ss.42-46; Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (reg.13)
CQC enforcement under the 2014 Regulations: warning notices, conditions, suspension or cancellation of registration, and prosecution; serious reg.13 breaches can be prosecuted without a prior notice.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Criminal offence to employ barred individuals
Environmental Protection Act 1990 s34; Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011
Breach of the waste duty of care is a criminal offence: summary conviction a fine; on indictment an unlimited fine.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 s2(3)
Failure to prepare/revise a written policy where required is an offence under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Extra duties that switch on with a feature of the building or how you operate.
Gas appliances or a gas boiler
A passenger or goods lift
Pressure systems (boilers, compressors)
Computer workstations
A commercial kitchen or food preparation
Heavy lifting or moving people
Hazardous substances (COSHH)
Work at height (ladders, roofs)
Workplace vehicles or forklifts
Fume or dust extraction (LEV)
A swimming or spa pool
A building constructed before 2000
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This guide highlights the obligations, frequencies and penalties that typically apply to premises like yours in England & Wales — general information to help you act on your duties, not legal advice and not a definitive statement of your position. You remain the duty-holder; take your own professional advice where you need certainty. Keeval is a trading name of Brenkon Holdings Limited (no. 16987530).