London families pay approximately double for funerals.

But despite the costs, bereaved families are being left without the legal protections seen elsewhere in the UK.

A new report reveals that funeral costs in the capital remain the highest in the country.

Yet the industry remains largely unregulated in England.

According to SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2026, the average cost of a simple attended funeral in London is now £4,897, 58 per cent higher than the cheapest UK region.

Burial plots alone cost an average of £4,863 in the city, compared to just £886 in Northern Ireland.

Despite these soaring costs, families have little recourse if something goes wrong with funeral services.

In England, there are no statutory requirements for how funeral directors should operate.

There are also no compulsory qualifications or routine inspections of funeral premises.

Zillah Byng-Thorne, chief executive of Dignity, said: "Everyone should have the right to die well, and families deserve the peace of mind to know that their loved ones will be treated with dignity and respect.

"There have been some truly horrific cases of abuse both within the NHS and the funeral sector and we support the government in bringing forward regulations to stamp out this malpractice.

"At Dignity, we have already instituted high standards and can work with the government in making these regulations robust and workable."

This stands in stark contrast to Scotland, which introduced a statutory Funeral Director Code of Practice on March 1, 2025.

A formal Funeral Sector Register followed just a month later.

In England, anyone can open a funeral home simply by registering a business.

There is no independent regulator to intervene if problems arise, unless the funeral director is voluntarily registered with a trade body.

The financial risks are particularly acute in London.

With the total "cost of dying" in the UK, factoring in professional fees and probate costs, now at £9,797, families in the capital routinely pay among the highest totals in the country.

Around one in eight people nationally struggle to afford funeral expenses, according to research from Royal London and Quaker Social Action.

Families in London are especially vulnerable due to higher overall costs.

Adding to the problem is a widespread lack of awareness.

Many people are unaware that the funeral sector in England operates without compulsory regulation or standards.

There are no requirements for professional training.

No checks on the facilities where bodies are stored and cared for.

No mandatory facility standards.

The Fuller Inquiry, which published its final report in July 2025, recommended the creation of an independent statutory regulator for the funeral sector.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced in April 2026 that the Department of Health and Social Care would "take the lead" on introducing a regulatory framework.

A full government response is expected later this summer.

However, until new laws are passed, bereaved families will continue to navigate an unregulated industry.

Ms Byng-Thorne said: "We believe this can go further than tackling abuse.

"Reform, such as through digitisation of the post-death pathway, could reduce delays, prevent errors and improve transparency for people navigating one of the toughest moments people experience, the death of a loved one."

For the thousands of London families who will lose a loved one before any new law is passed, the wait continues.