Check the scope
Premises and equipment used by the provider, within the statutory definitions and exceptions. A person’s own accommodation is excluded where accommodation is not supplied as part of their care.
What the law requires
- Keep premises and equipment clean, secure, suitable, properly used, maintained and appropriately located. Maintain hygiene standards appropriate to their use.
- For equipment in the person’s own accommodation that the provider did not supply, Regulation 15(3) excludes the requirements about security, suitability, maintenance and location where its conditions are met.
- That equipment exception does not remove every duty concerning its use or cleanliness. Apply the full regulation alongside the separate safe-care obligations.
What CQC expects
- CQC guidance expects suitable cleaning, maintenance and replacement arrangements, action on identified defects, and staff who can use equipment correctly.
- Contracting out work does not remove provider responsibility. CQC also expects providers to make every effort to ensure equipment owned by the person is clean, safe and suitable.
Suggested checks for your review
- Walk through relevant areas and compare actual conditions with cleaning records, maintenance schedules and outstanding defects.
- Trace a faulty item from discovery to isolation, repair or replacement and confirmation that care could continue safely.
- Check ownership, supply and maintenance responsibilities explicitly where equipment is shared or used in someone’s home.
Illustrative evidence
Choose evidence relevant to the actual service and risk. These examples are not a universal list of documents required by CQC.
- Asset records, servicing reports and a current defects log with closure evidence.
- Cleaning and decontamination arrangements matched to the equipment and setting.
- Competence checks and contingency plans for essential equipment failure.
Potential gaps to check
- A maintenance contract is treated as assurance without checking missed visits or unresolved findings.
- The service cannot show who is responsible for equipment supplied by another organisation.
- An environmental change improves security but unintentionally restricts access, privacy or movement.
Sources and review
- cqc.org.uk — Regulation 15 (opens in a new tab)
- legislation.gov.uk — Uksi · 2014 · 2936 · regulation · 15 (opens in a new tab)
- legislation.gov.uk — Uksi · 2014 · 2936 · regulation · 2 (opens in a new tab)
Content version: 1 November 2026. Next planned review 1 December 2026. Check current primary sources before relying on a requirement.
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Add a non-confidential action or evidence reference to your own working plan.
Open the evidence workbenchRelated guidance and next steps
Content version: . Named expert review remains pending for public launch.