The country has seen a steep rise in the number of "care home evictions" with thousands of elderly people reportedly forced to move out every year. Almost 7,000 residents in England were given just 28 days' notice in 2024 that their contracts would end in a 200% rise since 2018.

The figures obtained by The i Paper show that a number of evictions resulted from councils refusing to cover care home fees when residents' own funds run out. The same publication reported that about three-quarters of cases were due to a worsening of residents' conditions and the need for more specialised services.

In total, 6,706 people were issued with "notices to quit" by their care homes last year, according to The i Paper, citing figures released by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after a Freedom of Information request.

Six years earlier, there were 2,130 cases, while the number of cases exceeded 7,000 in both 2022 and 2023.

Nadra Ahmed, Executive Chair of the National Care Association, stated that some "acute clinical needs" pose a challenge for certain care homes, and sometimes relocating individuals is the only option to ensure they receive the necessary services.

Jayne Connery from Care Campaign for the Vulnerable (CCFTV) said that a minority of homes blame health concerns while unfairly pushing residents out, but noted that most homes are "exemplary" and issue notices for legitimate reasons.

She pointed to one shocking case, however, in which an end-of-life patient was given a seven-day notice to quit.

Ms Connery told the Daily Express that CCFTV is increasingly concerned by the growing number of families getting in touch following care home eviction notices, which were "often issued at times of extreme vulnerability and distress".

She said: "Eviction from a care home is not a simple contractual issue. For many residents - particularly those living with dementia, complex nursing needs, or frailty - being asked to move can cause significant physical and psychological harm. Disruption to familiar routines, staff and environment can accelerate decline and place people at serious risk."

The campaigner acknowledged the pressures care providers face, including staffing shortages and funding constraints, but stated that eviction should always be a last resort, not a default response to complexity, funding disputes, or challenging behaviours.

She said many evictions happen when there has been a breakdown in communication, inadequate support from statutory bodies or a failure to explore reasonable adjustments and escalation pathways.

CCFTV called for greater transparency around eviction decisions, clearer guidance and accountability for providers, stronger oversight from commissioners and regulators, and the meaningful involvement of families, in addition to proper escalation and mediation before eviction is considered.

Ms Connery said: "Above all, the welfare of the resident must remain central. No one should be made effectively homeless because their care has become 'too complex' or because systems have failed to work together."

A Government spokesperson said: "We recognise the distress any change in care arrangements can cause to vulnerable residents and their families.

"Everyone has the right to receive safe, high-quality care, and local authorities have a duty to arrange and fund support services for those that can't afford it."

The spokesperson said social care faces significant challenges following a decade of neglect, but the Government is turning it around.

A Local Government Association spokesperson said councils always focus on the wellbeing of people in their social care services.

They stated that when residents need to be relocated due to changes in their condition, local authorities collaborate closely with their families to ensure ongoing stability and safety.

The spokesperson said that where suitable, alternative accommodation isn't available, councils can be required to cover higher-cost provision.

They added that the adult social care sector is in desperate need of reform and sustainable investment to enable everyone equal access to the care and support they need, when and where they need it.