My sister wants to move into my fathers house.... but hasn't put her house up for sale

Savvy_Sue

I did suggest earlier - and I realise that the dynamics may not permit this - that if the OP could speak to his brother-in-law, then it might help clarify the situation. It's possible 

• SIL wants to buy it but BIL doesn't;
• they both want to buy it but BIL thinks it's too soon to actually 'do the deed'
• they're both overwhelmed with stress / grief / Covid anxiety and paralysed like a deer caught in headlights
• they both want to buy it but BIL didn't realise there was any need to hurry the process along
• they both want to buy it but are both useless at actually doing anything practical

And so on ... 

I don't think it much matters whose house it was: the OP's wife is executor and has responsibilities to ALL the beneficiaries. One would hope that the need for a timetable can be conveyed in a warm and respectful way, but conveyed it needs to be. 

74jax

Savvy_Sue said:

I did suggest earlier - and I realise that the dynamics may not permit this - that if the OP could speak to his brother-in-law, then it might help clarify the situation. It's possible 

• SIL wants to buy it but BIL doesn't;
• they both want to buy it but BIL thinks it's too soon to actually 'do the deed'
• they're both overwhelmed with stress / grief / Covid anxiety and paralysed like a deer caught in headlights
• they both want to buy it but BIL didn't realise there was any need to hurry the process along
• they both want to buy it but are both useless at actually doing anything practical

And so on ... 

I don't think it much matters whose house it was: the OP's wife is executor and has responsibilities to ALL the beneficiaries. One would hope that the need for a timetable can be conveyed in a warm and respectful way, but conveyed it needs to be. 

We have found out that the 2 beneficiaries are the OP's wife and her sister. If she wants to wait it out to save her relationship with her sister it's up to her. 
The house wasn't left to the op, it wasn't the OP's dad. It really is between the 2 sisters. 

theoretica

74jax said:

Savvy_Sue said:

I did suggest earlier - and I realise that the dynamics may not permit this - that if the OP could speak to his brother-in-law, then it might help clarify the situation. It's possible 

• SIL wants to buy it but BIL doesn't;
• they both want to buy it but BIL thinks it's too soon to actually 'do the deed'
• they're both overwhelmed with stress / grief / Covid anxiety and paralysed like a deer caught in headlights
• they both want to buy it but BIL didn't realise there was any need to hurry the process along
• they both want to buy it but are both useless at actually doing anything practical

And so on ... 

I don't think it much matters whose house it was: the OP's wife is executor and has responsibilities to ALL the beneficiaries. One would hope that the need for a timetable can be conveyed in a warm and respectful way, but conveyed it needs to be. 

We have found out that the 2 beneficiaries are the OP's wife and her sister. If she wants to wait it out to save her relationship with her sister it's up to her. 
The house wasn't left to the op, it wasn't the OP's dad. It really is between the 2 sisters. 

Were the grandchildren named beneficiaries in the will (in which case it is not just between the two sisters) or were they going to be given a share by their mother?

xylophone

Were the grandchildren named beneficiaries in the will 

OP said

It goes without saying that until the house sale is complete we cannot get our share of the inheritance, neither can any of his grandchildren. We are approaching retirement and want to pay off our mortgage and the children are desperately saving to buy their first homes and their share  would help enormously. 

   

getmore4less

There are also the ongoing costs associated with an empty property. 

At a min if the sister wants the place she should be covering all those ongoing costs as well as the lingering buyout debt to the estate while she sorts out the finances.

Does the BIL want this place?
Could be he does not which messes things up even more as he can block the sale of their current house. 

74jax

theoretica said:

74jax said:

Savvy_Sue said:

I did suggest earlier - and I realise that the dynamics may not permit this - that if the OP could speak to his brother-in-law, then it might help clarify the situation. It's possible 

• SIL wants to buy it but BIL doesn't;
• they both want to buy it but BIL thinks it's too soon to actually 'do the deed'
• they're both overwhelmed with stress / grief / Covid anxiety and paralysed like a deer caught in headlights
• they both want to buy it but BIL didn't realise there was any need to hurry the process along
• they both want to buy it but are both useless at actually doing anything practical

And so on ... 

I don't think it much matters whose house it was: the OP's wife is executor and has responsibilities to ALL the beneficiaries. One would hope that the need for a timetable can be conveyed in a warm and respectful way, but conveyed it needs to be. 

We have found out that the 2 beneficiaries are the OP's wife and her sister. If she wants to wait it out to save her relationship with her sister it's up to her. 
The house wasn't left to the op, it wasn't the OP's dad. It really is between the 2 sisters. 

Were the grandchildren named beneficiaries in the will (in which case it is not just between the two sisters) or were they going to be given a share by their mother?

We know the wife's sister has been left half (recent reply).
OP - the other half, is it to your wife only? Your kids, the deceased grand kids? You say the grand kids are waiting for inheritance, did your wife get left less than half?
To help we really need the facts, we already had 8 pages of replies on the wrong info to start with. 
Do you have the will? Exactly who gets what? 

Zecis

Thank you for all your replies folks, it is appreciated. I suppose the real query was how we get my wife's sister and husband to expedite putting their home on the market. Thanks to COVID they are now in the highest tier of lockdown in the country - so there will be nothing that can be achieved until the spring (this lockdown will probably continue till then). I wanted the whole thing closed down asap as it genuinely upsets my wife as every time she has to open up the paperwork she bursts into tears - her Father's  passing is still very very raw.
COVID has stopped that sale happening anytime soon.
Have a great Christmas and lets hope 2021 brings us all more cheer.

HampshireH

Zecis said:

Thank you for all your replies folks, it is appreciated. I suppose the real query was how we get my wife's sister and husband to expedite putting their home on the market. Thanks to COVID they are now in the highest tier of lockdown in the country - so there will be nothing that can be achieved until the spring (this lockdown will probably continue till then). I wanted the whole thing closed down asap as it genuinely upsets my wife as every time she has to open up the paperwork she bursts into tears - her Father's  passing is still very very raw.
COVID has stopped that sale happening anytime soon.
Have a great Christmas and lets hope 2021 brings us all more cheer.

Doesn't sound like Covid has been the problem here. Houses have.... And will continue to sell despite Covid.

Either the sister can buy it or not. Covid hasnt stopped her house being marketed and isn't stopping I doing so now or the deceaseds house going up for sale. Estate agents are open as normal and have been actively encouraged to keep the housing market open in all tiers.

Waiting till the spring is a choice that just further delays things.

https://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2020/12/housing-market-stays-open-in-new-tier-4-areas

calleyw

As I said before your wife needs to be firm.  I know she is stuck between a rock and hard place.  And all of this very distressing and causing her pain.  But she needs to tell her sister that she wants to get this wrapped up ASAP.  If your wife is the only executor then.  She needs to call 3 estate agents today and get them to value the property and put it on the open market ASAP.  She needs to tell her sister that it has to be done this way as she needs to get the best price for the estate.

Your wife holds all the cards and its now time for her to play her hand and tell her sister what is happening. As other wise you are going to be still the same position 12 months from now.  This is why really executor/s needs to be someone you trust but not always immediate family. As there are no interpersonal relationships to interfer with it.  As you can see your SIL is just taking the mickey now. And showing her true colours.  Convid is an delaying tactic.  Go on the housing board see hundreds of houses have been bought and sold during this year.  So stop letting her fob your wife off.

Please as tough as it is get your wife to explain in a letter or email that what she is doing is for the best for the estate and nothing personal and she needs to get it wrapped it ASAP so she can start to grieve properly.

I wish you and your wife all the best have a good christmas and take care.

Yours

Calley x

getmore4less

Zecis said:

Thank you for all your replies folks, it is appreciated. I suppose the real query was how we get my wife's sister and husband to expedite putting their home on the market. Thanks to COVID they are now in the highest tier of lockdown in the country - so there will be nothing that can be achieved until the spring (this lockdown will probably continue till then). I wanted the whole thing closed down asap as it genuinely upsets my wife as every time she has to open up the paperwork she bursts into tears - her Father's  passing is still very very raw.
COVID has stopped that sale happening anytime soon.
Have a great Christmas and lets hope 2021 brings us all more cheer.

Not sure why because house sales and the activities around house sales are exempt from Tier 4 general rules.

(f) to undertake any of the following activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting or rental of a residential property—
 (i) visiting estate or letting agents, developer sales offices or show homes;
 (ii) viewing residential properties to look for a property to buy or to rent;
(iii) preparing a residential property to move in;
 (iv) moving house;
 (v) visiting a residential property to undertake any activities required for the rental or sale of that property; 

Get it on the market they have had long enough.