Five care chains thought to make £150m a year for low-rated homes in England

Council are paying large sums for elderly care homes that are inadequate, need improving and not safe, finds Guardian research

Five of the largest private care chains are taking £150m a year in taxpayers’ money for places in English elderly care homes rated inadequate or requiring improvement, including some that are “not safe”, the Guardian has estimated.

The leading earner from public funds is HC-One, a chain of 285 care homes majority-owned by a US private equity company, according to analysis of council spending records.