Loss of Council House on Death of Parents

onlyroz

If the council have agreed to help her find a more suitable property upon her father's death then I think she should take this option, and free up the property for another family.

Upsidedown_Bear

WiseOldBird wrote: »

Thanks for replies. On the surface it does seem best to 'buy' the house. But (forgive my ignorance), as her dad is the tenant, then he'd technically have to apply for the mortgage? Who would lend a 90 year old with no income £60k?

Would a mortage company loan my friend the money in the circumstances? As you say, she'd would be better off paying a small mortage than paying rent. But would mortgage companies be as accommodating?

Yes, her dad would have to be the one to buy the property as he is the tenant and at 90 he simply wouldn't be able to get a mortgage.

Your friend can't get a mortgage to buy a property that would have to be in her dad's name.

pulliptears

onlyroz wrote: »

If the council have agreed to help her find a more suitable property upon her father's death then I think she should take this option, and free up the property for another family.

This.

If she buys it on her Dads behalf and he dies within 7 years then she will also be liable to pay back any discount she received on the house. (someone will tell you the exact figures I suspect, my memory is hazy but there are penalties)

murrayfan_2

onlyroz wrote: »

If the council have agreed to help her find a more suitable property upon her father's death then I think she should take this option, and free up the property for another family.

Agreed. My husband and I are joint tenants, but as we live in a sheltered bungalow because of his needs, not mine, the council would be able to make me move if he dies. I think that's perfectly fair to be honest and would just be glad to be found something else by them. Any affordable home is a blessing these days.

pulliptears

murrayfan wrote: »

Agreed. My husband and I are joint tenants, but as we live in a sheltered bungalow because of his needs, not mine, the council would be able to make me move if he dies. I think that's perfectly fair to be honest and would just be glad to be found something else by them. Any affordable home is a blessing these days.

I'm a firm believer in housing people according to their needs. I know of an old gentleman who 30 years ago waved off his disabled daughter as she went to live in adapted accommodation for her needs. For the last 30 years this man has lived alone in a 3 bedroom council house adapted for wheelchairs. What an absolute slap in the face that has been to those who are on the waiting list in desperate need for an adapted home.

Now the new rules are coming into force he's been given a much more suitable bungalow and a much needed family home will be freed up.

Tiddlywinks

Most of us have had to move several times in our lifetime - that is part of life and being an adult.

I know this sounds harsh but your friend needs to understand that change is a fact of life.

Added to this, there is a shortage of social housing so it is only right that the house is returned to stock to be allocated to a larger family group.

The HA have not said she will be homeless which is a real positive... unfortunately this is life... and very little stays the same.

WiseOldBird_2

Thank you everybody for your helpful comments. From what I can gather, it seems it would be nigh impossible for her to buy the property. Best way forward I can see is to try and get a copy of the original tenancy agreement to see if she can succeed to the tenancy. Failing that, it seems a pity, but looks like she might have to move (and I can see the logic in that - after all it's not her house) Hopefully it won't be for a while yet as dad still alive, and that when it happens it will be to a nice flat/area.

At the moment she has worst-case scenario fixed in her head that she's going to end up in a dingy flat in a terrible area, while a family of anti-social asylum seekers are going to end up in her much loved home. Am trying to be more positive with her.

Thanks again.

pulliptears

WiseOldBird wrote: »

while a family of anti-social asylum seekers are going to end up in her much loved home.

I'm sorry but what a bloody horrible comment. Whichever family end up in the home it will be a family who desperately need a roof over their heads and for whatever reason cannot afford to put one there themselves.
:mad::mad:

go_cat

WiseOldBird wrote: »

At the moment she has worst-case scenario fixed in her head that she's going to end up in a dingy flat in a terrible area, while a family of anti-social asylum seekers are going to end up in her much loved home. Am trying to be more positive with her.

Thanks again.

Or it could be a deserving family who will love the house as much as your friend has


Edit : hadn't seen pulliptears post

Tiddlywinks

WiseOldBird wrote: »

... while a family of anti-social asylum seekers are going to end up in her much loved home. Am trying to be more positive with her.

What a nasty comment that is... perhaps you might consider that a family of two parents and two children who are currently living in cramped conditions may get the chance of a nice home for their next 60 years - just like your friend's parents did all those years ago.

Bottom line? She's an adult and could have made some life choices a lot sooner... she could have done a bit of life planning a lot sooner... but she didn't.

She has to take some responsibility for her lack of forward thought.