Social Housing

Watkin

My wife and I are both OAP's, still working to pay off a mortgage, 7 years left to run. We would both like to give up work, but the only way would be to sell our property to release the capital. In such a case is it possible to apply for council housing and move in if possible before the sale is complete.

McKneff

I wouldnt have thought so with capital from a house sale, you would be on the list for years and then no guarantee.

Local authority housing in such short supply and usually given to more needy people than those with houses they own.

Could you sell and downsize. or sell and rent privately.

ikati5

There are housing associations for over 50's who may, depending on how many people over 50 have a need, take you on their books. Most ordinary social housing registers are closed now unless in emergency need, which means you must be homeless and have small dependants.

Have you considered a park home? Affordable housing for over 50's, mobile home communities in the countryside.. Or Spain, cheap and hot!

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savemoney

My brother has he still works running his own business doesn't make much money though so he claims. He is early 60's and got a flat with housing trust 2 years ago. He sold his house and enjoys the capital having holidays, 2 cruises in 2 year and a holiday again later this year. He did have share his house though with youngest son who moved in when he sold his house, it didnt work out living together with there kids, nothing nasty just people need space dont know if that made a difference or not.

Savvy_Sue

ikati5 wrote: »

There are housing associations for over 50's who may, depending on how many people over 50 have a need, take you on their books. Most ordinary social housing registers are closed now unless in emergency need, which means you must be homeless and have small dependants.

I'd start by investigating HAs, but they may share a register with the local authority: you'd almost certainly NOT get a 'normal' council house, but there is less demand for 'sheltered' housing and schemes for the over 50s. And don't think you have to be in need of help to get sheltered housing: fit and healthy pensioners live there too.

ikati5 wrote: »

Have you considered a park home? Affordable housing for over 50's, mobile home communities in the countryside.. Or Spain, cheap and hot!

Do make sure that any park home allows you to live there all year round: there are a few schemes where you effectively have to move out for at least 2 weeks a year because of terms in the planning permission when the homes were built. And don't rush into moving to Spain without doing your homework very carefully!!!

savemoney wrote: »

He did have share his house though with youngest son who moved in when he sold his house, it didnt work out living together with there kids, nothing nasty just people need space dont know if that made a difference or not.

It could well make a difference if you were sharing your house in this way, especially if that made the house overcrowded (in the technical sense).

Pollycat

I notice that you are both OAPs.

My parents owned and lived in a 2 bed terrace and my Dad was in receipt of DLA (called mobility at that time I think) as he had had heart surgery a few years earlier.

They put their names down for warden-controlled Council accommodation and were offered a flat almost 7 years ago (Dad was 76 years old then and Mum was 73) which they accepted.

They moved into the flat and put their house up for sale.

They qualified for council tax benefit and housing benefit initially until the house was sold and they then ovbiously had savings over the limit.

Errata

but there is less demand for 'sheltered' housing and schemes for the over 50s.

I think demand depends on the area. It's as scarce as hen's teeth where I live with a very long list of people wanting it; some of them never get it as others join the list after them who are in more need.

ikati5

I think it all depends on the area, in the Sheffield area, not all that long ago, it was common to own a house and be able to apply for a council house, in parts of Essex the council lists have been closed to new applicants for a number of years.

Now it is the richer areas that have a surplus of council houses because people have bought property and do not need or want them.

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

I think demand depends on the area. It's as scarce as hen's teeth where I live with a very long list of people wanting it; some of them never get it as others join the list after them who are in more need.

Fair enough, I'm remembering the situation from a few years ago, and thinking about it, it's probably changed radically since then. The HA I worked for was in the process of closing some of its sheltered schemes because they needed too much work to bring them up to modern standards, but was continuing to build / convert new schemes.

I guess if schemes were closed and not replaced then demand will outstrip supply by a long way, and it was true then that some schemes were a lot more popular than others.

And standards have changed: now you'd expect a scheme to be fully 'disability friendly', which means people can stay in them longer than if there were entrance stairs, no showers, and cramped kitchens.

However, I'd still say that the OP's parents should look into it as they may be surprised.

jaberwocky5

I am over 60, my partner is younger and we live in a small rented house. We have been on the social housing list for over 7 years I put a bid on any suitable property up to my 3 allowed but have never got even close to being offered a social home !
So I suppose it depends on where you live

chesky369

I think the situation has changed over the past five years. It's now impossible in west London to get LA sheltered accommodation here if you are simply old. You have to have mobility problems or be vulnerable in some other way. There simply isn't enough social housing of any kind - everyone bought it up years ago and it has never been replaced.