SAPAT - Protection of Property

Councils have a legal duty to provide protection of property under s47 of the Care Act 2014. This applies where a person is admitted to hospital, residential or nursing care or removed from their home and relocated under the Care Act and no one has been identified as being able to protect the property on behalf of the client.

Doncaster Council will take reasonable steps to safeguard movable property of an eligible person that might be deemed to be at risk of damage or loss, if there are no alternative arrangements available, and having due regard to the health and safety of staff performing this duty.

The local authority has a duty to undertake the following:

• Securing the clients property
• Conducting inventories of service users property
• Storage of service users property
• Arranging for the boarding of pets
• Arranging for the valuation, sale or disposal of a service users property

The Care Act allows costs for carrying out the protection of property services to be recharged to the person being supported. Current charges (2025/26 fees and charges rates) are £86.50 for the initial protection of property search and £12.40 for monthly property checks (required for insurance purposes if the person does not return home after 28 days). Any other charges such as lock changes, kennel fees, essential repairs are recharged the full cost.

The Safeguarding Adults Personal Assets Team (SAPAT) will ensure the property is locked and secured and a photographic inventory is carried out. Small items of high value maybe removed for safekeeping alongside items such as money, bank cards, cheque books, bank statements, investments, bonds etc.

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