Move from Council House to Care Home

SPARKSWILLFLY

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Are you sure the person there said they would bill you ? There is no basis on which to do that, how could there be?

As to whether they can bill your mother, I suppose so, depends on her financial circumstances, try citizens advice. If she is liable, it might be cheaper to remove it yourself or pay someone, where you at least control the costs, though if you take a weekend cutting up the carpets and taking them to the dump yourself, you won't have the costs that a commercial operation would have disposing of them, which can be substantial aside their actual charges.

Maybe it was a general "you", I am uncertain. They were pretty hostile anyway.

The irony is, the Local Authority were mainly responsible for the funding of my mum's now care home residence, because her capital is low. Will contact CAB tomorrow which I intended doing anyway ahead of Tuesday's property inspection. Cheers! :beer:

SPARKSWILLFLY

da_rule wrote: »

Something that might be worth checking is her tenancy agreement. Does she actually have a contractual duty to remove the floor coverings at the end of the tenancy? If not, ask them exactly where your mother has agreed to be liable for any such costs.

We moved in in 1968 so that will take a bit of digging.

Rosemary7391

Try not to think of the council as being merciless and demanding. If removing the carpets/blinds at the end of the tenancy is required by the tenancy agreement, then this is just another bill to pay, like rent and utilities to the end of the tenancy. It sounds like the council are being quite fair in checking their condition and offering to let them remain for the new tenants, so lets hope that happens

Keep_pedalling

If the carpets are in good condition then they may allow you to leave them, this certainly was not the case with my mum's carpets which old and tatty.

Have you had an on site meeting with a council surveyor? I had one with South Cambs and it was at that meeting that they confirmed what needed to be removed.

SPARKSWILLFLY

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

I cleared my mum's council bungalow out last year after she moved into a care home, and yes if I had not cleared out the carpets and blinds the council would have charged her to do this.

May not seem fair but things like carpets blinds and curtains are the responsibility of the tenants and cash strapped councils are reluctant to pay for things they don't need to. My mum was getting housing benefit and now has LA funding for her care so I don't really have any complaints about having clear her place out fully.

Maybe if their senior managers and chief execs weren't on such megabucks, they wouldn't be so cash-strapped, but there you go..;)

SPARKSWILLFLY

G_M wrote: »

She's a council tenant, and so she is liable for whatever the tenancy agreement says.

It makes no difference whether she wins the lottary and moves to Barbados, gets a mortgage and buys her own house, or moves to a care home.

Liability is limited to the tenant or tenants. If you are a joint tenant, you are liable. If you are not, you are not.

Hopefully you have POAfor your mother and can therefore manage her affairs for her.

This may seem cold but I'm afraid the law is frigid and takes no account of personal tragedy (unless a 3rd party caused that tragedy).

Just be glad when I see the back of all this, tbh, been really heart-rending.

SPARKSWILLFLY

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

If the carpets are in good condition then they may allow you to leave them, this certainly was not the case with my mum's carpets which old and tatty.

Have you had an on site meeting with a council surveyor? I had one with South Cambs and it was at that meeting that they confirmed what needed to be removed.

Hers are in really lovely condition because they are only a couple of years old. An inspection is taking place on Tuesday, so fingers crossed. Think I am just exhausted with all of this and, yes, probably feeling sorry for myself and my mum to boot.

ess0two

Worse case you can lift them yourself,saves getting billed by council.

cliffsgirl

When I dad died last year I left the curtains and carpets for the next tenant. However I'm in Northern Ireland so the rules may be different here.

Keep_pedalling

SPARKSWILLFLY wrote: »

Hers are in really lovely condition because they are only a couple of years old. An inspection is taking place on Tuesday, so fingers crossed. Think I am just exhausted with all of all and, yes, probably feelinf sorry for myself and my mum to boot.

I know how you feel, coping with this is very stressful, although in my case the move to a care home was a mighty relief, and she is now much happier, safer, no longer lonely and has made new friends.