Financial Help for Parents' Home

AdamHex

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right forum, but I will briefly explain the situation. My parents old kitchen had rotted and needed to be thrown away 5 years ago - which I did myself. They weren't able to afford a replacement, so earlier this year I bought a kitchen for my parents, which I had delivered to their address, however, due to financial restrictions, I couldn't afford to have it fitted by B&Q.

I have tried to get quotes for getting it fitted, but I haven't found one cheaper than £2,500 which neither I nor my parents can afford. I am stuck as to what financial help I can get them. I am worried sick as they have no running water in the kitchen and my mum is having to go upstairs to fill up a washing up bowl from the bathroom, etc. I spoke to the local council who said they no longer offer home improvement grants and they couldn't help.

My parents own their home (still has a mortgage outstanding of about £70,000) are both 58 years old, mum epileptic and my dad is diabetic. My dad receives the motability part of Disability Living Allowance. They are both unable to work unfortunately. They don't have any savings either. This situation is keeping me away at night... I really don't know where to turn for financial assistance. It cannot be right that they have had no running water downstairs for 5 years.

I feel I have exhausted all avenues, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Oldernotwiser

You don't need to get the whole kitchen fitted to get water in the kitchen, a plumber will be able to fit the sink in half a day. Once you've got this done, fitting the units can be a DIY job, even if you have to leaver the fiddly bits until you can afford a professional.

I'm amazed that you couldn't have had a sink fitted in the kitchen for your parents during all those years!

AdamHex

Yes, I believe that they are receiving support paying the mortgage, which is at 0.69% of the outstanding, which works out at about £38 per month they receive - hardly a massive amount.

Unfortunately due to my father's deteriorating health (he had to retire on medical grounds about 6 years ago), my mother had to stop work in order to look after him. They spent their saving having a new bathroom fitting and other home improvements, such as roofing and insulation etc. Unfortunately these costs ran higher than anticipated, as other problems were found (such as a damp proff course and walls needing to be tanked) and they ran out of money.

My parents spent all their working lives contributing to society, paying tax - they certainly have not spent a 'life on benefits'.

enabledebra

There are a few options to explore here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/GrantsFundsAndStandards/DG_10027032

I think you might be best advised to get in touch with your local home improvement agency in the first instance:

http://www.foundations.uk.com/about_home_improvement_agencies

oldestrocker

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't need to get the whole kitchen fitted to get water in the kitchen, a plumber will be able to fit the sink in half a day. Once you've got this done, fitting the units can be a DIY job, even if you have to leaver the fiddly bits until you can afford a professional.

I'm amazed that you couldn't have had a sink fitted in the kitchen for your parents during all those years!

Yes precisely.
I cannot believe that there is no running water in the kitchen or waste connected.
I fitted out my new kitchen in the summer of 09. I'm no carpenter, plumber or kitchen fitter.
But I made a reasonable job of it on my own.

oldestrocker

AdamHex wrote: »

Yes, I believe that they are receiving support paying the mortgage, which is at 0.69% of the outstanding, which works out at about £38 per month they receive - hardly a massive amount.

QUOTE]
Errr no, they should be getting something like £215pm based on a £70,000 mortgage.
Unless they borrowed money in the past by way of equity release. In which case they will not get any help on that debt.

They can only get help on the amount borrowed to buy the house.

So based on your figures, they are having to pay £177pm extra towards their interest out of other benefit money. That would have been their choice!

AdamHex

enabledebra wrote: »

There are a few options to explore here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/GrantsFundsAndStandards/DG_10027032

I think you might be best advised to get in touch with your local home improvement agency in the first instance:

http://www.foundations.uk.com/about_home_improvement_agencies

Thanks very much for your suggestions... I'm having a look through the sites now.

oldestrocker

enabledebra wrote: »

There are a few options to explore here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/GrantsFundsAndStandards/DG_10027032

I think you might be best advised to get in touch with your local home improvement agency in the first instance:

http://www.foundations.uk.com/about_home_improvement_agencies

I know you are trying to help here. But it seems that the OP's parents have released some equity already and that is gone.
Now they are looking for charitable money to improve their home further.

Totally wrong in my eyes. I have had to save, pay into pensions etc in my working life at the expense of having a lifestyle no better than it would have been on benefits. Yet I have had to be self sufficient and looked at it that if no money is there then have to do without!
This is the problem with this damn country!
You are always made to suffer if you do the right thing!

AdamHex

oldestrocker wrote: »

AdamHex wrote: »

Yes, I believe that they are receiving support paying the mortgage, which is at 0.69% of the outstanding, which works out at about £38 per month they receive - hardly a massive amount.

QUOTE]
Errr no, they should be getting something like £215pm based on a £70,000 mortgage.
Unless they borrowed money in the past by way of equity release. In which case they will not get any help on that debt.

They can only get help on the amount borrowed to buy the house.

So based on your figures, they are having to pay £177pm extra towards their interest out of other benefit money. That would have been their choice!

What on earth are you talking about?
They have an outstanding amount of £68,000.
The interest rate is 0.69%, as I mentioned before.
Which means £469.20 per year.
Which is £39.10 per month.

Where do you get £215 per month from?

AdamHex

Look, I didn't expect to get set upon simply for asking a question. The fact of the matter is that they have spent their money on essential works for the house, unfortunately ran out due to higher than anticipated costs and unexpected repairs, and they are now in a mess without the ability to fit the kitchen I have bought for them. The fact of the matter is that they are in a hole and I was enquiring if there was any help available from the same pot that they have paid tax and national insurance contributions into all their lives... isn't that what it's for? Helping people who are stuck and less fortunate than others?

sleepless_saver

AdamHex wrote: »

Look, I didn't expect to get set upon simply for asking a question. The fact of the matter is that they have spent their money on essential works for the house, unfortunately ran out due to higher than anticipated costs and unexpected repairs, and they are now in a mess without the ability to fit the kitchen I have bought for them. The fact of the matter is that they are in a hole and I was enquiring if there was any help available from the same pot that they have paid tax and national insurance contributions into all their lives... isn't that what it's for? Helping people who are stuck and less fortunate than others?

Just put oldestrocker on Ignore by changing your user settings so you don't see his posts. Many of us have already done this and to his previous incarnation (andyandflo) .

You are doing your best to help your parents and don't need to justify yourself to him or anybody else!