Keeping second house 'on'.

vonvonvon

My partner who lives with me owns a house, on which he has about 10 years left to pay on his mortgage. His elderly mum has just moved into his house for the foreseeable future as she has just sold her house, realising her assets and is now ‘enjoying’ what she has struggled to achieve financially over the years. I suppose in a way, she could be classed as ‘house-sitting’ for him; or am I being naïve?

In this day and age, it is in both our interests to keep his house on just in case we encounter problems in our relationship. (Burnt bridges and all that).

Can anyone offer any advice or words of wisdom please?

Many thanks.

hearts

Let him keep paying the Council Tax and keep using this as his main residence.

vonvonvon

We have been paying joint C/Tax at my address for about five years. His mum is now registered as the sole occupier at his house. We would really like to 'keep the house on' if at all possible
a) so that his mum can live in it until such a time she needs a bungalow (she is 75 and has some minor mobility problems relating to hip replacements in the past)
b) my son (11) at some point will want a place of his own and as things are going, may never be able to afford to buy a property himself so 'keeping it on' may provide an option for his independence when the time comes.

I would also like to add that we both work full time and not claiming any benefits to fund either property.

Any advice gratefully received.

seven-day-weekend

I don't see any problems in dong this except if you ever do want to sell it, it will probably be liable for Capital gains Tax as it is not your main home.

If you put it into joint names, you will get double the CGT exemption.

We have also 'kept our house on' when we moved to Spain, for similar reasons to yourselves (son needs somewhere to live etc).

swampduck

Assuming his mum is not paying rent etc to your partner, why should'nt she pay the council tax on the house she is living in? As a single OAP, would'nt she get a reduction on Council Tax anyway?
If she pays the council tax and nothing else except bills and shopping - she is very fortunate.

Swampy

oldMcDonald

vonvonvon wrote: »

a) so that his mum can live in it until such a time she needs a bungalow (she is 75 and has some minor mobility problems relating to hip replacements in the past)
QUOTE]

By 'needs a bungalow', would you be assuming that she would then apply to the council, or that she will be keeping enough money back to buy one?

If the former, then as she already has a home it would probably be highly unlikely that the council would help. If the latter, then would there be a problem should she be priced out of the market?

Should something unplanned happen, such as your partner were to be made redundant, what are the plans regarding his house, paying the mortgage, and his Mums housing needs then? Has he talked ALL possibilities such as these over with his mum?

Also agree with previous poster that Mum should pay her own council tax - she would get a discount as a sole occupier.

seven-day-weekend

I assumed that the property was not going to be sold, as the OP wants to keep it for her son, therefore his mum would not be able to 'keep enough money back to buy one' (it's not her house anyway).

If she has mobility problems then the council/housing association be able to help her.

oldMcDonald

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I assumed that the property was not going to be sold, as the OP wants to keep it for her son, therefore his mum would not be able to 'keep enough money back to buy one' (it's not her house anyway).

If she has mobility problems then the council/housing association be able to help her.

Ah, maybe I read it wrong? The way I see it, Mum has sold her own house and is now living in sons house - who still has a 10 year mortgage that he is paying?

As regards Ha/Council house- you are really at the mercy of whatever area you live in. Some may help, others (mine!!) will not help you unless you are homeless - expecting your current property to be adapted instead.

seven-day-weekend

Ah yes, you are right about Mum already having sold her house.

In my area of the UK people with medical needs can get allocated a property - there are some designated for elderly/disabled people that are exempt from the RTB scheme and are therefore available to those for whom it is intended.

However, I still think keeping the house is a good thing for the OP to do - as I say, we have kept ours in case we need a bolthole and our son lives in it with two other young men.

It's really no-one else's business who pays the Councuil Tax in the OP's house as long as it is paid, surely?