Sheltered housing criteria

startrim

I currently own a home and would like to move to another area where my parents live. It is a more expensive area so buying is out of the question.
They both live in sheltered accommodation and moved there 20 years ago. They previously owned a property, sold it and now pay rent. There is no warden. I also would not need a warden.

I am over 55 but thought if a person has over a certain amount of money they would not be eligible for sheltered accommodation.
My parents said they were never asked how much money they had when applying for the flat.

I would be interested to hear your experiences in this regard.

prettyandfluffy

Sheltered accommodation can just be private rental, it isn't necessarily Housing Association.  

Cloth_of_Gold

 Are you asking if you would also be able to rent a flat in sheltered accommodation, regardless of your financial situation? I don't believe that it is in any way means tested but most sheltered accommodation is provided by either local authorities and housing associations. My only experience is of an elderly friend in Devon. He was in privately rented accommodation (not sheltered - just a regular flat) but in his early 80s wanted to move to sheltered accommodation. 

There was little private sheltered accommodation in his area so he had to look for council or HA accommodation. He had to complete an assessment form for the council, which didn't include questions about income/savings iirc, and they gave him a priority ranking (Applicants were ranked from 1-4 or 1-5, I can't remember which, depending on their circumstances). Despite his age and relative infirmity he was given the lowest ranking.

The LA and HA accommodation was then advertised each week and if he saw anything he liked he had to put in a bid. At the end of the week the person with the highest priority and the longest time on the list was offered the property. It took him quite a while to get somewhere but he did in the end. I think that many areas operate the same system but you will need to check with the relevant LA unless you want to rent privately. You might find the link below helpful.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/housing-options/sheltered-housing/

startrim

Thank-you very much for the detailed reply and the link which I will read now.

Albermarle

prettyandfluffy said:

Sheltered accommodation can just be private rental, it isn't necessarily Housing Association.  

Yes and if it is private, they will not care how much money you have got, only how much rent they can charge.

Murphybear

I live in sheltered accommodation for over 55s or disabled people.

•  It was advertised on Rightmove.  
• I viewed the property and said I would like to take it. 
• I had to provide ID. but they didn’t need a reference or a deposit and didn’t need to provide proof of savings or income
• It was a Housing Association and a registered charity so the rent was very reasonable.  
• Housing benefit was happily accepted.
• The property was totally redecorated and new carpets put in every room (not the kitchen or bathroom )
• The rent included the service charge which was maintenance of community areas, gardening, outside window cleaning, unlimited use of Miele Professional washing machines and dryers, heating of communal areas

There is a court manager Monday - Friday.  The communal areas include a 100ft lounge with a kitchen area, lots of socialising and activities arranged by the tenants and communal outdoor areas with room for barbecues 

One final point, over 60s get a reduced tv licence of £7.50 a year 

startrim

Thank-you all for the replies.
It is good to know that there is sheltered housing available to rent regardless of savings.

theartfullodger

Different sheltered housing providers, different rules and tests.

Talk to/look at websites of  as many as you can find, see what their tests are. 

Artful: 75, evil capitalistic landlord