Mum and moving

[LittleMissMe99]

My mum's partner died around 6 months ago (together 17 years) and I've been trying desperately to move her closer to me, as she has no one where she lives. Also the house now belongs to his family, and they are being awkward. Anyway, local housing in my area contacted her today and say they have a flat. Hooray! But...they want to her to start paying rent NOW. Except it's a bit tricky to move 4 hours away with this virus, and I'm sure legislation has been put in place to stop people moving? So I said to them they don't expect her to pay rent for TWO properties? Yes. Yes they do. For the foreseeable future until social distancing is gone. I'm flabbergasted and disappointed.

Oops I put it as a vote 🙈

Contact Shelter, that's not right. It will also mean she is responsible for Council Tax for two properties. Bang out of order.

Shelter are fantastic with situations like this

@HavenDilemma Brilliant thank you. I'll do that!

You can move but they don't advise it.

You're still allowed to move house...

It would be incredibly difficult. We are high risk, my husband is self isolating and those who could help where she lives work for the NHS (they're nurses) or are carers. She could hire a van and driver but most are closed, and she would still need help moving in. Which we can't do. It just seems very difficult

Local authorities do this to keep the money coming in. As advice states that you can move home, I think your mum will have no choice but to pay the rent.

Does she get any housing benefit? If she does, she can apply for a discretionary housing payment to help cover the rent.

When you say her former partner's family are being "awkward", do you mean they are making it difficult for her to stay, or are being difficult about her leaving? How much notice does she have to give them - does she even have a contract (presuming it was her partner's house and there was no contract when her partner was alive).