Advice on mum buying a sheltered housing property

paul2louise

Mum is looking at Cash buying a flat in sheltered housing complex near to my home. I am helping her deal with this. We viewed an upstairs flat and she was happy to make an offer on it. We contacted the Estate Agents dealing with this and she put her offer forward. We didn't hear back from Estate Agents until teatime the following day and they said they hadn't put her offer forward as they had another flat come available that she might be interested in. As she was interested in this other flat she agreed to now hold off the offer that hadn't been submitted until we could view the flat. This new flat hadn't been put on the market and we had viewing prior to it becoming available. She wanted to go with the new flat and made an offer slightly under the asking price. I asked if there was anyone else viewing the property and was told yes someone is looking today at lunchtime so we cant cancel the viewing at this stage. I asked if I would be told when our offer would be reviewed and they said that 2 brothers are selling it and one has to contact the other one. I asked if the below offer isn't accepted would we be able to to counter offer and they said We will definitely come back to you and let you do that. Later that day they contacted me and said that the other people viewed the property and offered the asking price and that vendor has gone with them. I asked if i was able to offer the same or more and they said no the decision had been made.  

I know now that we should have made the asking price offer and cant go back to before this happened and we lost the new flat to the other people. Mum is still interested in the first flat but is nervous how to deal with the Estate Agents and is disappointed that we were not able to match the asking price like the Estate Agents implied that we could do. 

I am putting an offer together for the other flat but would appreciate any constructive advice as we know we messed up with the second flat and there is nothing we can do about that now. 
Just for information the first flat is upstairs and has been on the market 6 months and the newer flat was a downstairs flat. Both flats required some work, new heating , bathroom fittings so we were trying to take this into account. 

thank you

youth_leader

I'm not sure how old your Mum is, I'm 67 now and have looked at assisted living where you rent a tiny flat within the building.  They knock on your door each morning to check you are up and about, and provide two meals per day. 

I have been to look at Abbeyfield on the IOW, the flats are lovely, £1200 pcm plus council tax. Has your Mum considered this?  

I have heard that selling a retirement flat is very difficult - plus when you die, family have to continue paying the service charge until sold.  

Brie

re the first floor flat - is there a lift?  I would hope so as obviously mobility does become an increasing issue with age and the last thing either of you want is for her to be stuck in a flat she can't get out of. 

paul2louise

Brie said:

re the first floor flat - is there a lift?  I would hope so as obviously mobility does become an increasing issue with age and the last thing either of you want is for her to be stuck in a flat she can't get out of. 

No she would need a stair lift. There was one previously but they took it out for some reason 

Bellringer123

Simple answer is to make your offer on the new property via email so you have proof it was made. All offers to an estate agent must be put to the vendor (seller).

Good luck.

gwynlas

Your mum could hold off until another flat becomes available in this development, maybe somebody else is planning on selling. They are generally up for sale for a while due to the high monthly service charges. If they do not offer much in the way of care and support then she might be better off buying in a private block and paying for additional services if she needs them.It would certainly be easier for you to sell in the future. Are there flats to rent in the block so she could try it before committing to buy? Some people think that paying rent is wasting money but for a forever home it would give  a sound base on which to make a decision.

Bigphil1474

OP, we were different scenario but same result. We saw a house we loved, put in a below asking offer and someone put in asking price, we couldn't offer more so lost it. Next house we wanted, we just put asking price offer in straight away. 

I find it strange that a sheltered housing block would have no lift and require you to install your own stair lift - is it a flat that has stairs from the flat down to the ground rather than a communal staircase? It's understandable why a ground floor flat went so quick - planning for the future. Stairlifts make a huge difference, but no good if it gets stuck half way up or down. If you go that route, think about getting your mum an emergency fob that she can wear round her neck or wrist. 

Personally, if it's what your mum wants and there are no better options, I'd be offering asking price. The housing market has been slow last few months, but definitely picked up round where I live since the new year.

paul2louise

Bigphil1474 said:

OP, we were different scenario but same result. We saw a house we loved, put in a below asking offer and someone put in asking price, we couldn't offer more so lost it. Next house we wanted, we just put asking price offer in straight away. 

I find it strange that a sheltered housing block would have no lift and require you to install your own stair lift - is it a flat that has stairs from the flat down to the ground rather than a communal staircase? It's understandable why a ground floor flat went so quick - planning for the future. Stairlifts make a huge difference, but no good if it gets stuck half way up or down. If you go that route, think about getting your mum an emergency fob that she can wear round her neck or wrist. 

Personally, if it's what your mum wants and there are no better options, I'd be offering asking price. The housing market has been slow last few months, but definitely picked up round where I live since the new year.

Yes each flat is independent of each other, has it's own front door. The upstairs ones have staircase from front door. There are about 30 flats in the complex and they are set up with an emergency system. There is a community room, washing machine area and communal gardens with seating outside. She just wants to be near me but independent too and sociable to make a few friends. My husband had his late mother in same complex and she was very happy. They can only be sold to occupants over 50 and we sold his mum's flat after she passed. Her flat was a downstairs flat and he had quite a bit of trouble getting it and said he probably left it too late to get his mum moved. She was only there a year before she passed. 

youth_leader

It's good you know the complex, that will reassure your Mum.  Hopefully another ground floor will come up soon.