The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has ended an investigation after a care home agreed to drop an 14-day after-death fee.

Avery Healthcare agreed to waive the 14-day after-death fee as a gesture of good will following a complaint from a resident’s daughter who died in July 2022.

Following the resident’s death the care home invoiced the family for 14 days of fees and a dilapidation charge in line with the contract signed in July 2020.

The complainant, referred to as Mrs X, wrote to the care home to challenge the decision to charge for the full 14 days as she had removed her mother’s belongings within two days of her mother’s death.

She also challenged the dilapidation fee and raised concerns about noise from another resident which she said had caused her mother distress.

The care home wrote to the complainant in August 2022 explaining it was entitled to charge the 14-day after-death and dilapidation fees as per the signed contract and had made an offer to move her mother which had been declined.

Following the launch of the Ombudsman’s investigation the care home agreed to drop the after-death fee which was accepted by Mrs X.

An Avery Healthcare spokesperson said: “Avery Healthcare is pleased with the Ombudsman’s decision not to uphold this case as we believe we behaved in line with an agreed contract with the resident and family and responded promptly to concerns about noise. We are dedicated to providing the very best care and service to residents and families alike, and as a gesture of goodwill, we waived the 14-day after-death fee.”