Building an annexe

[dogsandkids]

We are just entering stage 2 of the adoption process, having completed references, health check, home check, finances and prep group. We are about to start our home study. My mother lives abroad and has been trying to sell her house for many years. Out of the blue this week she sold the house and the plan has always been that she will use the money to build an annexe on our house. A simple garage conversion, one up one down which will take about 10 weeks to complete. The work will all be external other than one door. Do you think this will pause or delay our application or will they allow us to complete this project whilst undergoing the home study and before we go to panel? Also if mum is in an annexe will she need police checking? Sorry for the lengthy questions oh fellow helpful mumsnetters

Sorry don't know the answers to all your questions but I do know you need planning permission for the annexe and you will need to pay council tax on it, but you might get a discount depending on your local council.

Re the building work, we were allowed to carry on with our home study for dc2 while doing a loft conversion to accommodate them.

Yes your mum will definitely need a Crb check if she will have any contact with your children (assume she will!) but you could start this now and it is fairly straightforward. They'll probably want to meet her as well.

I do think the SWs may wish to take a little bit of extra time to explore how your mum settles into living with you and how you work as a household. Very sorry - I know any delay is awful. But it may be a real positive in the longer term and for matching to have your support network living in the garage

dogsandkids I can't say for definite but I am with Threesocksnohairbrush on this in that I think your mum will need to be checked under the new version of whatever CRB is now called. I think she will possibly be part of the process of assessent. This is not because she is the grandma-to-be but because I imagine (big guess here) that the annex will count that in some way she is living with you.

I would be honest with your social workers about this as quickly as you can. Especially if you have not yet mentioned this as a possibility.

If your mum is currently abroad then I am guessing you will not be approved until she can be met by a social worker, so if she is coming for a visit before she finally moved into the annexe then you will probably not get the approval until they can meet your mum. That is just my best guess!

Although there are a lot of possessives about having a mum close by, there are potential problems and you may be asked about these, e.g. how you will handle it your mum got ill, if you mum did not get on well with the new child etc etc.

I know this sounds potentially a bit harsh but my elderly mother lives miles away in a care home and 'what would happen if she got ill' came up as a question.... interestingly at matching panel not approval panel. I just wanted to warn you!