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Elderly parents
Original poster

Should we rent out elderly DM’s house?

54 replies

Chipolatasandstuffing · 24/12/2025 10:25

DM with dementia has just moved into care home. DC (me and DBs) have LPA. Plan is to put a charge against her house to pay for care, as well as using her pension and (modest) savings. Should we rent out her house (rather than sell) to help boost her income? What are the pitfalls?
TIA!

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 24/12/2025 10:33

@PermanentTemporary it will be LA putting charge against house so when it is sold they will have a right to proceeds covering care costs. Won’t LA want it selling asap @Chipolatasandstuffing

PermanentTemporary · 24/12/2025 10:31

When you say ‘put a charge against her house’ do you know that you can do that and what the outcome will be? Do you mean a mortgage or equity release?

ProfessorBinturong · 24/12/2025 10:29

Being landlord is a significant job, and the regulations are increasing all the time. Personally, I'd sell and use the interest.

EmotionalBlackmail · 24/12/2025 10:29

Do you have any experience of being a landlord? There are (rightly!) onerous requirements to meet in terms of energy efficiency ratings, gas safety, paperwork for tenants etc. You need to keep a sink fund to cover void periods without a tenant, or if the tenant doesn’t pay rent for months, or to cover maintenance and decorating costs.

And do the sums add up? In my experience the average monthly rent for a house would cover about a week of CH fees!