Making my parents homeless

[Summerpicnic23]

My Dad has been a terrible business man most of his life, didn't understand mortgages etc. He got my mum to buy their council house for 16grand x number of years ago. During the boom it became worth £90,000 and they proceeded to remortgage (self cert mortgages) and get the money. He was using it to keep his failing business going.

About 20years I got my first job and they begged me to buy it and save them from having to sell. I did because I didn't have the right support around me and I trusted my parents. Anyway, they proceeded not to pay the mortgage and ruin my credit. Everything got rectified but I haven't been able be on a mortgage with my husband and we have had to limit what we can borrow etc. It's been really frustrating but I thought I would least have an assest at the end of it. Their health is now poor, my Dad is in and out of hospital and my Mum is very isolated and has many health problems herself. The house has been run into the ground with questionable building work by my Dad - 20yr old extension not finished, leaking boiler beside live wires, ivy coming through windows never mind the hoarding. I dont have the money to fix it. They aren't coping there anyway and I need to sell. It's breaking my heart as they are so resistant but I am so stressed about. I have seen a house I want to move my family too and I can't get it as I can't go on the mortgage because of this situation. If we sold, the mortgage would be clear and I would be free. Do I just push ahead, aibu and heartless?

Yes you do. You will need to serve them notice of eviction then they will need to present to the council as homeless. They are adults and not your responsibility.

You need to let them know that you can’t sustain this anymore as it’s preventing you from buying a home of your own, and that they need to explore alternative housing options. Would they be eligible for sheltered social housing? It’s often easier to get than general needs social housing, particularly if they have health issues.

Where do you expect your parents will go once you've sold the house?
I'm pretty sure you can't legally make them homeless and turf them out on the streets......
I'm sure if the council got involved they too would prevent you from doing such a thing and they certainly wouldn't just house them for free.
It's pretty shitty that they have essentially ruined your credit score etc but that was the risk you took and I would have turfed them out a long time ago for doing such a thing but now they're elderly and you're in a predicament.
I could be wrong and someone more knowledgeable might offer some better advice shortly

Of course you need to sell.You seem to have been parenting your parents for most of your life. It needs to stop and you and your own family need to come first.

If your renting to your parents, and they aren’t on the mortgage, contact the local council see if they would be eligible for sheltered over 60s housing and get them added to the list for a home.
if they are on the mortgage they won’t be though.

Yes, you should evict them - but be aware that this could be a lengthy process (6-12 months). It’s unlikely to be sorted in time for you to offer on any houses you’re looking at now.

You will need to serve them a Section 21 notice to vacate the property within 2 months, but if they have nowhere else to go, the council will tell them to stay past the deadline and you’ll have to take them to court to evict them. The council will not house them until the last possible moment.

I also have parents like this and have been in a similar situation to you. Do you think they’d give you a second thought of the boot was on the other foot? They clearly don’t care about your credit or stability when they don’t pay rent etc. They won’t be homeless. They can be rehomed my the council

Jesus very harsh replies here! Yes you do need to fix this and the only way will be by selling but sit down with them and talk to them and figure something out. Are you an only child or do you have siblings who could take them in?

What do you expect them to do when you sell the house?

How old are your parents? Do they work? Do they have any money coming in? Can any other family members help them out?

The other possibility if you can face it - Can you get a house with an annexe? Or even a mobile home in the garden?

Property failing into disrepair.
Hoarding which is a fire risk.
Unsafe gas and electrics.

Id be looking at giving them notice. However I’m assuming no legal tenancy in place, no EICR or gas cert which in itself presents an issue with serving notice.

I would seriously get some legal advice or join The associations of residential landlords and pay the annual fee so you can tap into experienced landlord's as this is a nightmare.

I always see the question on these sorts of threads, can anyone else help them out? The answer is no, nobody ever wants to. People don’t have spare money, they need it for themselves and their kids, especially if it’s feckless recipients like op parents. The only people that ever willingly help out is someone’s own parents or grandparents.

OP, have you contacted Citizen's Advice, they may be able to give you some proper advice?

If she owns the house, of course she can turf them out on the street if she wants to. The council would have no say in the matter.

Well no she can’t just make them leave, she’ll have to serve them notice, then the council will tell them to stay until the bailiffs knock at the door after the Op has been to court to have them removed from the property.

@Summerpicnic23 I appreciate that they have done shitty things with regards to your credit rating. But if you were able to take a mortgage out you were old enough to do your own research into the ramifications. Some of the blame has to sit on your shoulders, they didn’t do this underhand. You said your Dad never understood mortgages, so likely he probably didn’t understand what they were fully asking.

Yes you can evict them, no you can’t just expect to be able to have them move out next month and the council to house them. That’s not how it works anymore. You need to proper legal advice

Sheltered housing seems like the best bet, and as the house sounds dangerous to live in, you might get them a place sooner.

I think you have to see what's the likely timescale for them getting housing, and talk to them about it. You can tell them the house is unsafe, and as the owner you're responsible for upkeep, you can't afford to renovate so will have to sell, but you'll help them to find social housing. You need to be clear and consistent - works are needed, you can't afford them, your Dad can't do them as electrical and plumbing, so it's totally non-negotiable.

I think it's quite harsh to say some of the blame would sit on my shoulders. I was 22 at the time trusting my parents. I wasn't raised with good coping mechanisms or encouraged to think critically about anything. I had a traumatic childhood and my 20s were spent sorting myself out. So although yes I was legally an adult, I was very much under the influence and manipulation of them at that point.

My siblings haven't spoken to my parents in well over 25yrs so they don't want anything to do with them. No other family, they are early 80s. I wouldn't just turf them out, I'm trying my hardest to get them to see. I provided quotes to show the cost to sort the house out. It's adding up to 20 grand and that's just the outside of it. House couldn't be worth more than 50grand in its current state.
Thank you for the advice so far, it's been really helpful to have a few directions to turn.

So you are in effect the landlord charging them rent? In that case YOU are responsible for the material upkeep of the property. Do they have a lease? Does your mortgage lender know you are letting it to your parents?
Sell it if you must, but I’m not sure how you will get them out. Unless you have done everything properly in terms of letting (a lease, providing them with the right paperwork and certificates) you may be on dodgy grounds legally. Might need legal advice.

Are you renting to them though? Or in effect you have just let them live there? Did they pay you anything at all? You need a property solicitor first because I think they might have a right to remain. You also need some sort of plan for them to be able to go into social housing of some sort e.g., sheltered accommodation.

I don't agree with anyone saying you share any of the blame; my DD is 22 and she'd do anything to help me - I could easily exploit her credulity, difference being I am here to parent and protect her not the other way round. So I can completely understand how you got into this situation. However unfair it is, I don't think it's as simple as serving them notice, unless you are legally their landlord. Get some proper advice ASAP.

do they pay you any rent? first thing is to find out if you are formally a landlord (and can evict under section 21) or if this is a more complex situation.

Of course the OP can sell a house which belongs to her. How on earth could the council stop her?

When was the last time you saw people of 80+ sleeping on the streets? The council will find them a property. If they can't pay the rent they will be entitled to benefits.