Own half the house with a parent? Any advice

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81900618#Comment_81900618

Exactly, if an asset that is available now to be considered as part of the father's capital is in any way disposed of so that it is no longer available then the assessment may consider that to be a deliberate attempt to avoid paying for care.

They will look at the motivation and shifting it between joint tenants and tenants in common is logical in the circumstances, but giving it to the mother does not have any particular logic other than an attempt to remove the asset from consideration.

Harsh as it may be, the aim here is to support those who cannot afford to pay, not to support those who do not want to pay, and this rather unfortunate case gets caught in the same trap.

The other aspect that often gets forgotten in the various 'schemes' to take a home out of consideration is that when you have to depend on the state to pay the fees that can also impact on the quality of care that is available.

I suppose the other potentially important question would be - is there a mortgage on the property at the moment?

Idpullthecurtain

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81900651#Comment_81900651

Yeah, it is an unfortunate circumstance.

Its not that he won't want to pay for care, its that he cant afford. But sadly he'll end up paying for it with his daughters house.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81900674#Comment_81900674

If it is any help, there can often be deferred payment schemes so they don't end up having to sell the house now, or raise a new mortgage (is it already mortgaged?).

… but exactly how this plays out is always uncertain, but good to be thinking about the pieces of the puzzle now just in case.

Idpullthecurtain

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81900690#Comment_81900690

I see. Thats something.

There is no mortgage on it.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81900698#Comment_81900698

That is good, makes changing the deeds easier if that is needed, but pity it wasn't resolved a few years ago…

silvercar

Was there a reason in putting the ownership in this odd way?

I'm just thinking that the beneficial owners may not be what is written on the deeds. eg Dad went on the deeds to enable daughter to buy a property and needed to be on the deeds to obtain the mortgage. (Of course, joint borrower single proprietor mortgages are available for this scenario but may not have been available at the time.)

Idpullthecurtain

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81900763#Comment_81900763

It seems like a bad decision now.

Im sure it was what he wanted at the time. I assume he provided a lump some for the purchase?

We need to look at the Deeds, we arent at that point yet though.