Selling my house and renting a sheltered flat

Tiina33

I am 65, living alone, and I I have no family (parents long gone, no siblings, no children and no partner). Have had cancer and an aneurysm, I have Asperger's (high levels of anxiety and depression) and am at a very high risk of getting glaucoma, for which I am being monitored. I am very worried of possible future blindness, and indeed of any other serious health issue which may arise. If I need professional carers coming in in future, I would not want to continue living in my house as it is in an unsafe area and I would not want a keysafe attached to an outside wall as someone could break it easily and get in using the keys.  I would want to sell my house and move to a rented sheltered flat, using the money from the house sale to pay the rent. However, my house isn't worth much at all due to the area it is in and the problems the house itself has. I need to know if I would definitely be able to claim housing benefit to cover the rent and service charge after the money for the sale of the house runs out. I would only have the state pension to live on and, once the money for the house had gone, my savings would be under £6,000.  I am so stressed out about the whole situation.

Brywalker

Could you possibly contact a local housing association that has sheltered housing and explain your situation to them.  I'm sure they must have come across people with similar issues and be able to offer you advice. That or try your local Citizens Advice Bureau who may be able to point you in the right direction.

I wish you well.

Savvy_Sue

I agree with Brywalker. It may also be worth considering a move before you need professional care: there is a whole range of sheltered housing available. Many of our local housing associations offer their rented sheltered housing through the local authority, but don't be put off by that, because there is a continuous turnover in that kind of property. 

I have a friend who rents a lovely flat where some are owner occupied and some are rented out. When they moved in, they were still working, and even now they have no additional needs. But they do have the reassurance that there is a cord they can pull in an emergency, and if they need help in future it will be easy to arrange it. There are some social activities on offer, generally organised by the residents themselves. 

Of their friends within the complex, it seems that those who settle in best are those who made the move before it was absolutely necessary. That's especially true for people who move from a different area. 

HampshireH

Definitely contact the local council. Depending on where you are will depend on how they run their sheltered housing lists 

You can usually be a home owner and still be eligible for social housing when it is sheltered accommodation (or extra care). So you could get the ball rolling on the sale at the same time/after knowing you have somewhere to go 

Give the council a call and ask to speak to a housing advisor

Murphybear

I live in sheltered housing.  It’s run by a Housing Association and you go through them directly, not through the council.  They welcome housing benefit and the rents are much lower than the private rentals locally.  

GrubbyGirl_2

Age UK a re brilliant at helping people around benefits, contact them I'm sure they will sit down with you and go through what you will be able to claim

diystarter7

Hi OP

I have vast knowledge of most things. Best bet for you and when I worked in the council about7/8 years ago, this is the best rout
Monday - ring your local coucil and ask about shelter housing. They will have a specialist officer there that carrys our assesmnets/etc will have the kowldge and they will know what HA, private and charity schemes are also within their borough.
They will send you leaflets/paers and help you with any questions you have and or give you the correct details of whom you need to speak with

Ideally, consider where you want to move and ran by whom, kind of cash you will have when the property sold and seek help via the council for benefits advice.

Sadly, not every LA office will have the same knowlge - but write down in bullet points what you want to ask and if they say someone will call you back - take the person you spoke to their name, their direct number and who and whe you will get the call etc.

Good luck