my mum inherited a house while on income support

emmagarnett25

Hiya

technically i think you can sell the house for a pound but its called a transfer of equity in which your solicitor would note the consideration as a £1 you may also need to apply for deed of gift indemnity insurance as you would be 'selling' the property at an undervalue and this insurance would protect your mother and nan when the property changes hands in the future.

Do you know if the property was registered solely in your grandads name? as if the property was registered in joint names as joint tenants your nan would automatically inherit the whole property on the death of your grandad. if the property was registered as tenants in common then your grandad can leave his share to whoever he wants to in his will.

plus as you say the house is unliveable you might encounter difficulty in selling the property on the open housing market as prospective buyers may encounter difficulties in obtaining mortgages if the structure is unsound

hope this helps

xx

nannytone_2

even if it is legal, for benefit purposes, selling a property for under its market value would be deprivation of capital

Sueinbirmingham

Encourage Nan to challenge the will? Nan could take legal advice on whether she has any chance of overturning the will and inheriting the house. Some solicitors give initial advice free so that they can see whether the case is worth taking.

debrag

Confused...This house is it the one your grandparents lived in? Doesn't sound like it but thought I'd ask. Did your grandfather have a house with your grandmother and also this house? Is your nan living with your mother?

Wee_Willy_Harris

What fantastic news. An unexpected inheritance in these difficult times. You must be delighted for her, I know I would be. As it would clearly cost a fair bit to get up to scratch, I'd be tempted to suggest that your mother sells is for the market value as it stands, then enjoys the extra quality of life her windfall will bring her for a few years, safe in the knowledge that she won't be effected by any further benefit cuts deemed necessary by the current administration. And don't forget to pass on all our congratulations as well, will you?

Isn't it nice to hear a story of such good fortune for a change.

Mojisola

smellyelle109 wrote: »

basiclly my mum inherited a house which is in disrepair ,it had a fire and she managed to get windows put in,there in no bath room no kitchen,no pluming no electric,she was left this house because her mother and father were not on speaking terms so he left it to my mum,but it is still her mothers although not on paper.
she was on income support and they have stopped her benefit,she is careing for my nan and is a carer and she is only getting about £50 a week which is nothing to live on.
can any one enlighten me please my mother is in great stress she is old and my nan is 80 odd.

I don't think there's enough information here for anyone to give proper advice. Were your grandparents still together when your grandfather died? Was your grandmother being financially supported by him?

Where are your Nan and Mum living now - presumably not in this ruin?

If the will cannot be challenged, then your Mum is the owner of the house, however much she feels it should be your Nan's.