Help with essential house repairs

WannaBLoaded

giddypenguin wrote: »

Why not? Could be cheaper for the taxpayer in the long run if OP moves into rented and claims HB...

They wouldn't be eligible because they'd have tens of thousands of pounds sitting in the bank after the sale of their house. Compared to most people the op is a wealthy person with a plethora of opportunities.

giddypenguin

WannaBLoaded wrote: »

They wouldn't be eligible because they'd have tens of thousands of pounds sitting in the bank after the sale of their house. Compared to most people the op is a wealthy person with a plethora of opportunities.

At the moment OP doesn't have a monthly rent/mortgage to pay, and still cannot save an emergency fund for essential repairs- that would suggest they would struggle with the costs of renting, won't be long before the equity gets eaten up...

WannaBLoaded

giddypenguin wrote: »

At the moment OP doesn't have a monthly rent/mortgage to pay, and still cannot save an emergency fund for essential repairs- that would suggest they would struggle with the costs of renting, won't be long before the equity gets eaten up...

Depends how much the house is worth? How much is renting a small place these days? 6 grand a year? Maybe a bit more. If they have 100k equity or maybe even 200k or more, it wouldn't be hard.

As i said and as other have, downsizing to something already done up is the way forward.

If the op is in a rush to sell i'll give them a good price

PlymouthMaid

I have a lot of sympathy with the OP and am in a similar quandary really. My house was built in 1905 and needs a fair bit doing now. I work but don't have any spare money after bills so have no idea how to pay for repairs. Selling up isn't really an option as it would cost a lot to actually move and buy another place (as well as the drop in price needed when repairs are required)and renting would be insane as I certainly can't afford to pay rent from my wages. Repairs are so stunningly expensive that extending the mortgage or putting it on credit cards would mean that I was in debt forever. Terrifying prospect.

OP - I think you will have to bite the bullet and fix the electrics on the credit card. Can you get a 0% sorted for it and pay a little off here and there when able.

WannaBLoaded

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

I have a lot of sympathy with the OP and am in a similar quandary really. My house was built in 1905 and needs a fair bit doing now. I work but don't have any spare money after bills so have no idea how to pay for repairs. Selling up isn't really an option as it would cost a lot to actually move and buy another place (as well as the drop in price needed when repairs are required)and renting would be insane as I certainly can't afford to pay rent from my wages. Repairs are so stunningly expensive that extending the mortgage or putting it on credit cards would mean that I was in debt forever. Terrifying prospect.

OP - I think you will have to bite the bullet and fix the electrics on the credit card. Can you get a 0% sorted for it and pay a little off here and there when able.

Not similar, she own all of her house and has equity, you don't own yours.

PlymouthMaid

Near as damn it - only owe 5 grand

BigAunty

OP - pop over to the debt free wanabee board who may be able to advise you on a debt repayment strategy that doesn't tie you up in knots and takes up most of your income.

Many social housing landlords will not accept applications from homeowners but I've occasionally seen posts on the housing forum from people who have managed to move from home ownership into social housing. In one instance, it was because the household is very overcrowded. You could just check the criteria for your local social housing landlords to see if they have a blanket ban on accepting applications or not from homeowners and if so, how you might be prioritised or not with health issues/house that may be uninhabitable or dangerous.

onenonblonde

To answer the questions raised.....
I am only 43.
I already claim the lower mobility rate of DLA and haven't yet been switched to PIP.
I also asked specifically about grants and who qualify, I don't need people telling me I should sell my house - how do any of you know that I'm not going to do that anyway as soon as I get the essential work done??? It can't be sold to anyone in it's current state. I'm not asking the state to fund my lifestyle, just enquiring what I may be entitled to. I've already realised I will have to sell before long. There's hardly anything cheaper in my area and due to the nature of my illnesses I can't move far and the move itself will make me more ill.

Thanks for the info about the Anchor Trust. I'll look into that.

onenonblonde

Now I see that the Anchor Trust is for over 55s so that's no good. It's hilarious that someone says I haven't got a mortgage or rent to pay "yet I still can't manage to save an emergency fund for house repairs".
The fact is, I've been on Sickness Benefits for SEVENTEEN YEARS and always managed to put aside a tiny bit of that into a savings account. Even when my benefits were only £48 per week!!!! They are now £112 p.w. I have only just run out of money, NEVER EVER had to go to anyone before to ask for help.
I have also worked part time on and off under the Permitted Work rules but am now too ill to do so.
Don't judge what you don't understand.....my parents died when I was 23 and it was the inheritance that bought this house because I saw no point in frittering away my inheritance by renting. I was also in a serious relationship at the time and thought I'd be getting married. That didn't happen. It's nowhere near as simple as people think......

FBaby

how do any of you know that I'm not going to do that anyway as soon as I get the essential work done???

I think you will find that even if you can get a grant, it will come with the condition that you can't sell the house for some time. Any house can be sold even in a state of repair, you just have to lower the asking price. Expecting a grant so that you get as much equity from the sale as possible is not normally in the spirit of charity.