TL;DR
• Homebase has entered administration with Teneo appointed as administrator.
• All 49 remaining UK stores face closure, putting around 2,000 jobs at risk.
• Gift cards and deposits are unlikely to be honoured once administration begins.
• Customers with recent orders should contact Teneo for updates on fulfilment.
• Trade creditors and suppliers are classified as unsecured creditors and face significant losses.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026
KEY FACTS: HOMEBASE ADMINISTRATION
- Administrator: Teneo Financial Advisory
- Stores affected: 49 UK locations
- Jobs at risk: approximately 2,000
- Gift cards: not guaranteed once administration is confirmed
- Customer orders: fulfilment subject to administrator decisions
- Supplier claims: unsecured creditor status
What has happened to Homebase?
Homebase, the UK DIY and home improvement retailer, has entered administration following a period of sustained financial difficulty. Teneo Financial Advisory has been appointed as administrator. The business had already significantly reduced its store count after a previous restructuring under a Company Voluntary Arrangement.
The collapse marks the end of a retail brand that operated in the UK for more than four decades. At its peak, Homebase ran more than 300 stores. By the time of the administration, that number had fallen to 49.
Which Homebase stores are closing?
All 49 remaining Homebase stores are expected to close as part of the administration process. The administrator will assess whether any stores or parts of the business can be sold as a going concern, but no buyer had been confirmed at the time of filing. Customers are advised to check the Teneo website for store-specific closing dates.
What happens to Homebase gift cards?
Gift cards and store credit are treated as unsecured liabilities in an administration. Holders are unlikely to recover the full value and may receive nothing if there are insufficient assets after secured and preferential creditors are paid. Gift card holders wishing to make a claim should register with Teneo as an unsecured creditor. The Insolvency Service publishes guidance on creditor claims at gov.uk.
Anyone holding a Homebase gift card should avoid attempting to use it in-store without first checking with the administrator, as transactions may not be processed.
What about outstanding orders and deposits?
Customers who paid deposits for kitchens, bathrooms or large items face uncertainty over delivery. Under insolvency law, prepayments rank as unsecured claims unless goods can be specifically identified as belonging to that customer. Anyone with an unfulfilled order should retain all proof of payment and contact Teneo to register their claim.
Customers who paid by credit card may be able to pursue a Section 75 claim under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 for orders over £100 where goods or services have not been provided. Debit card payments may be recoverable through chargeback, subject to the card issuer's terms and time elapsed since payment.
What happens to Homebase employees?
Approximately 2,000 employees are at risk of redundancy. Staff are preferential creditors for up to eight weeks of arrears of pay and certain holiday entitlements under the Insolvency Act 1986. Employees whose jobs are terminated can claim redundancy pay from the National Insurance Fund via the Redundancy Payments Service at gov.uk.
What does this mean for suppliers and trade creditors?
Suppliers owed money for goods delivered before administration are treated as unsecured creditors. Recovery rates in retail administrations are typically low, often below 10 pence in the pound. Suppliers should cease delivery of further goods unless instructed otherwise by the administrator and register claims with Teneo.
What caused Homebase to collapse?
The business faced sustained pressure from shifting consumer habits, competition from online retailers and the decline in footfall at out-of-town retail parks. Homebase sold its trade to Hilco in 2018 after Wesfarmers exited the UK market at a significant loss. Rising occupancy costs, supply chain pressures and subdued consumer spending on home improvement in 2025 and 2026 contributed to the trading deterioration that led to administration.
Is there a chance Homebase could be rescued?
Administrators are required to explore all options including a sale of the business or its assets. With no confirmed buyer at the point of filing and the costs of maintaining 49 leasehold properties, a rescue of the whole business is unlikely. A partial sale of intellectual property, brand assets or specific store locations cannot be ruled out.
Frequently asked questions
Are Homebase stores still open?
Some stores may remain open temporarily while the administration process is managed, but all 49 remaining locations are expected to close. Check the administrator's website for updates.
Can I still use my Homebase gift card?
Gift cards are treated as unsecured liabilities in administration. Full recovery of value is not guaranteed. Register as an unsecured creditor with Teneo if you wish to make a claim.
I paid a deposit for a kitchen. What should I do?
Retain all proof of payment and contact Teneo to register your claim. If you paid by credit card for amounts over £100, you may have a Section 75 claim. If you paid by debit card, contact your bank about chargeback options.
How do I claim redundancy if I worked at Homebase?
Redundancy pay can be claimed via the Redundancy Payments Service at gov.uk once your employment is formally terminated. Statutory redundancy pay limits apply.
Who are the administrators for Homebase?
Teneo Financial Advisory has been appointed as administrator.
