Mum's about to become homeless - what can we do?

2budgeteers

What about buying an over 50s retirement lodge on a lodge park. They are from £50-100k depending on what part of country you are in. She could part rent part buy it 

deannagone

Not a good idea.., lots of problems with this kind of accommodation. Do research before even thinking about it.

AdrianC

A rapidly depreciating static caravan with massive fees and restrictions on resale.

Ms_Chocaholic

I would suggest sheltered housing, contact your local Council Housing Dept for advice.

TBagpuss

Ho long was she with her partner? It's possible that if she was wholly or partially dependent on him she may also have n inheritance act cliam - it may be worth her having a conversation with the executors in due course to see if a compromise can be reached - possible even just being able to satay in the house for a period to allow her to make alternative arrangements.

Longer term, shared ownership and/or requirement properties for people over 55 may be options to look at, as these can be less expensive than unrestricted housing.

Do you (or other family members) have any scope to be able to lend her money to enable her to buy, if her savings won't stretch to it? And loan could be secured against the property 

firebubble

Does her partner know she'll be homeless? If he's worried, they could get married (even in hospital) and she would automatically get a half share in the house (the rest would go to his heirs). Appreciate this might have been ruled out early on, but if not it is an option.

Marriage would be better than her trying to challenge the heirs to argue she deserved a share in the house - the cost of a contentious probate claim would swallow her money very quickly, potentially with nothing to show for it.

Slithery

firebubble said:

If he's worried, they could get married (even in hospital) and she would automatically get a half share in the house

Why do you think she would automatically get a half share?

deannagone

My son's father, unfortunately, died last year. He had married his gf prior to this.  Had quite a lot of money that verbally he promisedsome of it to our son (that he'd be taken care of).  But once they married, (no will), everything was his wife's.  I'm not saying she did anything nasty or intentional.., but the marriage did mean that any verbal promises his father made were meaningless..  I know the money will be passed onto her children not his.  And there's nothing to be done.

So marriage is a good idea. If he has a will, any bequests will still need to be kept to.

Jenni_D

csgohan4 said:

lr1277 said:

Can the partner write a will? He can gift his house to whoever, but give your mum life interest possession (I think it is called). Then she can stay there till she dies or moves out. At least that is my understanding. Would the partner be willing to do that?

The partner wants to sell the house, not gift. 

Just to pick up on this ... the OP said the partner's family would probably want to sell the house, not the partner himself.

How long have they been together? Does your Mum gain any common law (or howsoever it is known) rights with respect to her partner's assets?

elsien

There aren't any common law rights, that's a misconception.