To think my mother is being unreasonable here....?

[ilovejonty]

My mother's mother passed away almost 10 years ago. Since the day she died, gran's house has stood empty, exactly as she left it. All her clothes are still in the wardrobe, all her linens in the drawers, all her letters in the bureau (all under a think coat of dust and cobwebs).

My mother is constantly complaining for lack of money. I feel it is a waste (and unhealthy) to let gran's house just decay. I have been told by an agent that it would let for £700 pcm.

I have mentioned this many times to my mother but she won't hear of it, saying she is worried the house will get ruined and does not want to throw away the furniture. Admittedly the furniture is nice, or was. I have said she could pay for storage with the rental proceeds but she won't have that either. It is as though she wants to preserve it forever as some sort of shrine. My mother lives in a real mess herself and is a notorious hoarder - never throwns anything away, even rubbish (ancient newspapers etc) but the state of her own house is another story...

I am not sure how to proceed with this problem (it is my problem as well as she moans to me everyday, and obviously I want to help). I suspect she just can't be bothered/ can't face the thought of anyone clearing out. She gets really angry if I push the subject (sorting house out). Should I just leave it? The whole situation is getting me down.

The other thing that may work with her is that an empty house is a risk of being used by squatters and it is VERY difficult to get them out.

Was just going to post what buda said. And also that the house will literally fall down at some point if it is not lived in and looked after.

I don't think houses fall down that easily!

No they don't but they need regular maintenance.

Isn't there now a law where the local authority can compulsory purchase a property that is left unoccupied and not maintained over a period of time. This was made law to stop the problem of empty houses etc. Maybe you should mention this to her to get her to act.

Yes, it is called the Empty House Initiative and Oxfordshire and a couple of London authorities have done just this on properties left empty for about the same time as your grandmother's. It can happen.