Regulation 49: Notice of Changes
Regulation 49 requires the registered person to give HMCI written notice of specified changes affecting the home, including changes of provider, manager, responsible individual, directors, name changes, insolvency, and premises alterations. This explainer lists the notifiable events and distinguishes them from Regulation 40 child incident notifications.
Regulation 49 requires the registered person to give HMCI written notice as soon as reasonably practicable of specified events, including a change of who carries on or manages the home, name changes, insolvency, partnership changes, director or responsible individual changes, and significant premises alterations.
As at 19 August 2026, Regulation 49 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 remains in force. The Department for Education's Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations refers to Regulations 49, 50 and 51 in relation to changes to the running of the home.
Quick answer: what does Regulation 49 require?
1. Notifiable events
The events that must be notified under Regulation 49 are: (a) a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the home; (b) a person ceases to carry on or manage the home; (c) if the registered provider is an individual, a change of name, appointment of a trustee in bankruptcy, or a composition or arrangement with creditors; (d) if the registered provider is a partnership, any change in the membership of the partnership; (e) if the registered provider is an organisation, a change of name or address, any change of director, manager, secretary or similar officer, or any change in the identity of the responsible individual; (f) if the registered provider is a company, appointment of a liquidator, provisional liquidator, manager or receiver; and (g) the premises of the home are significantly altered or extended, or additional premises are acquired.
2. Distinction from Regulation 40
Regulation 40 covers notification of serious events affecting children, such as death, serious illness, accidents, and safeguarding incidents. Regulation 49 covers organisational and registration changes affecting the home's governance and operation.
These are distinct notification duties. A serious event involving a child triggers Regulation 40. A change in the registered provider, manager, responsible individual, directors, or premises triggers Regulation 49. Both may apply to the same situation, but the duties are separate.
3. Relationship with other Regulations
Regulation 48 covers temporary absence of the person in day-to-day charge. Regulation 49 covers permanent or structural changes. Regulation 42 covers notification of criminal convictions. Regulation 50 covers appointment of liquidators, and Regulation 51 covers death of a registered person. Together, Regulations 42, 48, 49, 50 and 51 form the notification framework for changes and events affecting the registered persons and the home.
4. Related guidance
Where to go next
Related resources
Guides and tools that connect to this one.
Regulation 48: Notice of Absence
Regulation 48 requires the registered person to give HMCI written notice if the person in day-to-day charge of the home is absent for 28 days or more.…
Regulation 50: Appointment of Liquidators etc.
Regulation 50 applies to liquidators, receivers, managers and trustees in bankruptcy appointed in relation to a registered provider. It requires them…
Preparing for Ofsted Inspection: Understanding the SCCIF for Children's Homes
How Ofsted inspects children's homes under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework: the three judgement areas, how evidence is gathered and how to…
Regulation 5: Engaging with the Wider System to Ensure Children's Needs Are Met
Regulation 5 is an overarching requirement that runs across all nine Quality Standards. It requires the registered person to engage with the wider sys…
Regulation 37: Other Records
Regulation 37 requires the registered person to maintain the records set out in Schedule 4 to the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, keep them up to d…
What to do next
Sources and further reading
This guidance references the following official sources. Always consult the underlying legislation and official guidance where appropriate.
Legislation
Legislation · Legislation
Accessed 2026-08-19
About this guidance
A concise explainer on Regulation 49 of the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, covering the duty to notify HMCI of organisational and registration changes.