Elderly Relative falling victim to Scrounger, Maybe.

Carmina-Piranha_2

irishjohn wrote: »

So the reality is it is down to the family of the deceased to determine when to terminate the tenancy and pay the rent until that date, either out of the deceased's estate or out of their own pockets. The council really won't force you out within an unreasonable timescale but neither will they allow a rent free period for the clear out - a nice idea but non commercial and likely to make people take even longer to sort out.

I didn't mean that it should be rent-free, of course not.

Maybe it was because it was sheltered housing that they didn't allow longer? Who knows. She was in a ground floor flat so those are desirable because there's no lift to the upper floor, which usually lies empty.

saidan

when my father died - in a council flat block for the over 60s I was given 7 days to empty the flat of what we wanted.
the council got rid of and cleaned the flat (free of charge) ready for the next person.

tooldle

Mr gran lived in a council flat. I can't remember how long we had to clear the place when it was confirmed that she would not be returning home from a temporary placement at a care home, but it wasn't long.
It may be different if the tenant is paying their own rent, but if the council are covering housing benefit and then care home fees, I can understand the urgency.

irishjohn

tooldle wrote: »

Mr gran lived in a council flat. I can't remember how long we had to clear the place when it was confirmed that she would not be returning home from a temporary placement at a care home, but it wasn't long.
It may be different if the tenant is paying their own rent, but if the council are covering housing benefit and then care home fees, I can understand the urgency.

I think you have hit the nail on the head - if the tenant or their family / beneficiaries are prepared to ensure that the rent is paid, then the council will not repossess the property - BUT - if the rent is covered by Housing Benefit this will cease immediately - I am confident that in every case described so far it was not the council who forced the issue - it was the family who were unwilling to pay a continuing rent period to give time to clear the property and hand back the keys.

moremore

I remember reading in 2008 in the local paper about council properties being cleared out the caretaking staff and they were taking valuable items themselves to sell on.

Not sure if that is still going on but it could have been the caretaking staff that cleared out the flat.
Will look to see if I can find the link.