To think it is a concern!

[Suspiciousminds29]

Hi all, I have name changed as this could be outing alongside my other posts.

so here is my AIBU.. I have an elderly relative who currently rents a property from a council, has been there over 15 years. This relative thinks they have struck gold because another member of family who is not directly linked to me has offered to purchase a property for them and charge them what they are paying currently.

i am greatly concerned about this as they pay the rent currently out of their own income and if their circumstances were to change they would not be able to claim benefits for rent when the property belongs to family.

also there is not going to be a tenancy agreement and the family member has been told to treat the house like their own but there has been no mention of the family member being a landlord and managing repairs or insurance etc.

my other concern is that this family member is not linked directly to my elderly family member so it is increasing their equity and financial gain whereas my family
member will not be gaining anything and will have no stake in the property which means there would be no improvement to their way of life or their families in the way of inheritance etc.

not that inheritance is my main concern as it wouldn’t directly affect my anyway I just spent a lot of time with this person.

My main concern is that they will lose all security which a council house brings and they may be worse of financially if they are expected to cover the cost of a house with no gain and what if this family member from the opposite side of the family decides to kick them out or increase the rent to market value on a whim.

[Suspiciousminds29]

Well their current house has already been adapted but the new house isn’t adapted to their needs fully.. my concern is bathroom has a very small shower with a seat but they have a wet room currently and they’ve said they can make it work probably to not be seen as a nuisance but if they decide they can’t cope what if no one changes it and no one can afford to change it. They will struggle to have to shower 😕

[Manchestermummax2]

Terrible idea! Also as you mentioned she is elderly, there may come a time when adaptations need to be made (wet room/hand rails etc) the LA would cover theses costs if needed or move her to an adapted property. Would the relative stump the costs if it was needed? I highly doubt it.

[Gazelda]

Is there anyone that your elderly relative trusts that will give them the honest risks and help them understand?

A friendly neighbour she respects, someone she knows who is a 'professional' eg teacher, gp, bank worker etc?

It's a really awful and risky idea. The only winner is the house owner. The potential loser is your relative.

[Suspiciousminds29]

A transfer with someone else would only work if the person moving was happy to be further from amenities but like my family member, elderly people like to remain close to town centres 😕

I have spoken to my other close relatives and we don’t think it’s a good idea but we don’t how to tell our family member who is supporting the move and the person who is buying the house as they are not my family but my family come first.

[wellobviouslyyoucan]

If the idea is that they want to move to be closer to other family members, then perhaps they could look at the possibility of a council house transfer with someone else?

[Suspiciousminds29]

Thank you for your advice everyone! The family member who is buying the house is not blood related to my relative either whereas I am so my priority and concern is making sure they remain safe and protected.

[CrustyCrotch]

It's a really bad idea.
Even in the most loving and supportive families, these arrangements can go horribly wrong, and it may be that your elderly relative is regarded as making themselves intentionally homeless if they do.

[ImWithMuriel]

Sorry, I misunderstood and thought there was a mortgage involved. Irrespective of that though, this is an awful idea.

[Suspiciousminds29]

My relative thinks it will be better as they will be nearer other members of my family and be able to access necessities easier.

my family members that would be closer who are directly linked to me have made no promises to spend more time with them either..

[TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination]

It is a VERY.Stupid move, for all the reasons you have said. I would be doing everything to stop it happening.

what does your elderly relative even think THEY are gaining out of this??

[NuffSaidSam]

@Suspiciousminds29

They are buying with cash so there will be no mortgage and the property they are buying is not from the council, my relative is currently in a council property and would be moving out to live in this one which has been purchased.

Ok, my mistake. I thought they were buying the council house they're currently in.

In which case, it's not illegal but it's still a terrible idea for all the reasons you mention.

[Suspiciousminds29]

@NuffSaidSam no one is buying the council property. That will return to the LA.. the family member has put an offer in for buying a general property on the market with cash from savings

[Suspiciousminds29]

They are buying with cash so there will be no mortgage and the property they are buying is not from the council, my relative is currently in a council property and would be moving out to live in this one which has been purchased.

[ImWithMuriel]

Not necessarily illegal but I'm sure that unless it is a special type of mortgage, you aren't allowed to let to family under normal mortgage or buy to let. I'm sure someone with more knowledge can confirm.

[NuffSaidSam]

I think to buy a council house (and make use of the discount which I assume they are?) you have to be the tenant?

Is this.ither family member resident in the property? Or lying and saying they are? Or lying and buying it in the elderly relatives name? You can't just buy someone else's council house.

[Merryoldgoat]

YANBU OP - it’s a terrible idea.

All the security she’d lose is a big concern.

[Merryoldgoat]

@NuffSaidSam

It's a terrible idea and also illegal, no?

Illegal how?

[Suspiciousminds29]

Not illegal to let a family member live in a property.. I don’t know about tax like income etc.

they are basically using my family members money to replace the savings that they had come into via legal channels. They want the savings replaced as from their point of view it is for their families future.

there is nothing illegal about that is there? Please god I hope not because my elderly relative would not be aware of any of this and I am concerned they are being taken for a ride.

[Cocopogo]

YANBU it’s a very bad idea for all the reasons you mention

[NuffSaidSam]

It's a terrible idea and also illegal, no?

[Suspiciousminds29]

So my AIBU is am I being unreasonable to think this is a really bad idea unless something concrete is put into place or not. The offer on a property has been agreed so with the national average it will be able Christmas time but the family member has not put their notice in yet with the council so they’ve got time.