Home sale ?

50Twuncle

If I ever had to go into a nursing home - I understand that I can be forced to sell my house to cover the costs - but what if my wife is still alive and living in said home ?
If she is not down on the deeds as "owner" - can I still be forced to sell the property ?

PennyForThem_2

For permanent care, any interest in your former home will generally be taken into account as capital.

There are exceptions to this rule, which are set out below.

In the following circumstances the value of your main or only home must be disregarded. This is where you no longer occupy the property but it is occupied in part or whole as their main or only home by: 

your partner,
former partner or civil partner, except where they are estranged; 
a lone parent who is your estranged or divorced partner; 
a relative (defined in Annex B of the statutory guidance) of yours or member of your family who is: 
aged 60 or over;
a child of yours aged under 18;
incapacitated.

This mandatory disregard only applies where the property has been continuously occupied by one of those listed above since before you went into a care home. The rule is confirmed in Schedule 2 of the charging regulations and Annex B of the statutory guidance, where further clarification of the definitions of the terms is also provided:
The term ‘relative’ includes: (a) parent (including an adoptive parent); (b) parent-in-law; (c) son (including an adoptive son); (d) son-in-law; (e) daughter (including an adoptive daughter); (f) daughter-in-law; (g) stepparent; (h) step-son; (i) step-daughter; (j) brother; (k) sister; (l) grandparent; (m) grandchild; (n) uncle; (o) aunt; (p) nephew; (q) niece; (r) or the spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner of (a) to (k) inclusive.

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS38_Treatment_of_property_in_the_means-test_for_permanent_care_home_provision_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true