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giving our house to the kids

My hubby and I are in our early 70's.own our house mortgage free 100% equity value £90 -95000 our problem is we would like to move closer to our children in Hertfordshire we are both in poor health and to have our children and grandchildren there for support and just nearness would be great for us and they do want us closer. We have applied to the council for supported housing, and they have put us on their list but even tho we have provide doctors letters regarding physical and mental benefits we have been put on the lowest banding reason is we own our own house. and can provide for ourselves. we have looked at renting but at £12,000 + a year not only the amount of rent but also the fact that we could be asked at sometime time to move out which at our age and poor health is we could be moving around for many years is quite worrying. buying is out of the question because even a 1 bed flat is £200,000 + the reason for giving you our little story is to see if fellow members have been in our situation, if we turned over the house to our kids legally of course would we then seen to be without owning our home and hope move up the banding? or would we be causing more problems any thoughts and advice would be great.x
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  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627
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    Giving your house to your children won't increase the amount of council property in Hertfordshire. The council that you have applied to probably doesn't have enough supported housing for the people already living in Hertfordshire.

    What does it say on their website about applications for council housing from outside the area?
  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 16,444
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    That would be classed as deprivation of assets, so no it won't help. Have you looked at sheltered housing costs?
  • oystercatcher
    oystercatcher Posts: 2,326
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    Just a random thought. I live in Hertfordshire and know quite a few people who live in park homes which are much cheaper than bricks and mortar . Not everyones ideal but it could be a way of affording your own home down here. Those that live there seem to love it. There is monthly ground rent to pay as well as buying the place but it is an economical way to live in an expensive area.
    Decluttering, 20 mins / day Jan 2024 2/2 
  • 00ec25
    00ec25 Posts: 9,123
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    Just a random thought. I live in Hertfordshire and know quite a few people who live in park homes which are much cheaper than bricks and mortar . Not everyones ideal but it could be a way of affording your own home down here. Those that live there seem to love it. There is monthly ground rent to pay as well as buying the place but it is an economical way to live in an expensive area.
    :eek:

    a park home is a fine way to live for as long as you have piles of cash to :
    a) buy the glorified caravan in the first place (you won't get a mortgage)
    b) find a site that allows you to live there all year round (the majority have planning restrictions meaning you can't)
    c) have a site owner whose site contract does not force you to replace the caravan every X years with a brand new one (you own the caravan, not the land it sits on so the site owner dictates your life)
    d) have a site owner who does not fleece you at every turn in respect of site charges and utility bills
  • karcher
    karcher Posts: 2,069
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    Annie2017 wrote: »
    My hubby and I are in our early 70's.own our house mortgage free 100% equity value £90 -95000 our problem is we would like to move closer to our children in Hertfordshire we are both in poor health and to have our children and grandchildren there for support and just nearness would be great for us and they do want us closer. We have applied to the council for supported housing, and they have put us on their list but even tho we have provide doctors letters regarding physical and mental benefits we have been put on the lowest banding reason is we own our own house. and can provide for ourselves. we have looked at renting but at £12,000 + a year not only the amount of rent but also the fact that we could be asked at sometime time to move out which at our age and poor health is we could be moving around for many years is quite worrying. buying is out of the question because even a 1 bed flat is £200,000 + the reason for giving you our little story is to see if fellow members have been in our situation, if we turned over the house to our kids legally of course would we then seen to be without owning our home and hope move up the banding? or would we be causing more problems any thoughts and advice would be great.x

    Refreshingly, not many biting tonight :D
    'I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought
    And I ain't got the power anymore'
  • oystercatcher
    oystercatcher Posts: 2,326
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    00ec25 wrote: »
    :eek:

    a park home is a fine way to live for as long as you have piles of cash to :
    a) buy the glorified caravan in the first place (you won't get a mortgage)
    b) find a site that allows you to live there all year round (the majority have planning restrictions meaning you can't)
    c) have a site owner whose site contract does not force you to replace the caravan every X years with a brand new one (you own the caravan, not the land it sits on so the site owner dictates your life)
    d) have a site owner who does not fleece you at every turn in respect of site charges and utility bills

    They said they have a house they could sell. There are loads of full time residential sites around Hertfordshire. These aren't the metal caravans you see at seaside parks, more permanent structures. Yes the landlords rip you off over utilities but that's the price you pay . It's just a potential idea to think about that could work . They certainly wont be getting a council or housing association property down here, even those in need can't get them !
    Decluttering, 20 mins / day Jan 2024 2/2 
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882
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    00ec25 wrote: »
    b) find a site that allows you to live there all year round (the majority have planning restrictions meaning you can't)

    the restictions are often 11month max.

    In an area we frequent the solution used is the local B&B owners offer rooms off season(jan/feb time frame) on a room only basis, with access to the kitchen for the month and go on holiday themselves.
  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 44,146
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    we would like to move closer to our children

    Would it be possible to live with family?

    Or does one of the offspring have a house which could be extended to provide an extra couple of rooms and a bathroom?

    You could then sell your property and pay your way at the offspring's house.
  • 00ec25
    00ec25 Posts: 9,123
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    They said they have a house they could sell.
    indeed they did, which is why investing their once in a lifetime pot of money in a depreciating asset where they can be forced to scrap it and replace it at a future date may not be a wise solution
    There are loads of full time residential sites around Hertfordshire.These aren't the metal caravans you see at seaside parks, more permanent structures.
    fair enough, you know the area. However, does not negate points a) and c)
    Yes the landlords rip you off over utilities but that's the price you pay . It's just a potential idea to think about that could work . They certainly wont be getting a council or housing association property down here, even those in need can't get them !
    agreed, it is an option and lots of people obviously do live in "park" homes. Could I suggest however that (gross generalisation) they tend to be there because they have little other option. My first house was an ex RTB. The vendor (the RTB purchaser) moved to a park home because they found the costs of having to pay a mortgage and maintain a home was too much for them, and they were no longer able to go back to renting from the council. To say they were bitter about their life choice would be an understatement.
  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627
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    Annie2017 wrote: »
    My hubby and I are in our early 70's.own our house mortgage free 100% equity value £90 -95000 our problem is we would like to move closer to our children in Hertfordshire we are both in poor health and to have our children and grandchildren there for support and just nearness would be great for us and they do want us closer. We have applied to the council for supported housing, and they have put us on their list but even tho we have provide doctors letters regarding physical and mental benefits we have been put on the lowest banding reason is we own our own house. and can provide for ourselves. we have looked at renting but at £12,000 + a year not only the amount of rent but also the fact that we could be asked at sometime time to move out which at our age and poor health is we could be moving around for many years is quite worrying. buying is out of the question because even a 1 bed flat is £200,000 + the reason for giving you our little story is to see if fellow members have been in our situation, if we turned over the house to our kids legally of course would we then seen to be without owning our home and hope move up the banding? or would we be causing more problems any thoughts and advice would be great.x

    You don't say where you live now but if it isn't already in Hertfordshire then you will be in the bottom band whether you already have a house or not. The bottom band includes people without a local connection which if you don't already live in Hertforshire includes you.

    http://www.hertschoicehomes.org.uk/choice/Content.aspx?wkid=14

    It looks as if you would be better to seek sheltered housing where you live now.
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