I'd appreciate any advice for my almost 80yr old mother.
Her house is unusual. It was a three bedroom house, that had an extension, which now has an upstairs (two bedrooms and bathroom), with a kitchen, living room, etc in. Mum lives mainly in this one, with one of her dogs.
They are not totally separate, as there is a door where you can go through (where mum's other dog lives). They have separate electricity, but shared water. The idea was that my brother was going to live in the 'old' house (where we grew up), and rent out a couple of rooms, and my parents in the other.
My Dbro died in 2020. So his part wasn't used. My dad died last year.
My parents had a will sorted (when Dbro was still alive), but it turns out it is very, very badly written.
My dad had his own bank account, until last year, when he became too ill to go out, so it was changed to a joint account, to allow mum to access money for bills, shopping, etc. She was on Pension Credits, but due to his illnesses dad got a lot in disability benefits. The intention was to do much needed improvements, that never happened.
The estate is going through probate, but mum has access to dad's money, as it was changed to a joint account. This has meant mum no longer qualifies for benefits (he had about £20,000 in it).
This sounds fine, but the house is a tip! My brother and mum are both hoarders.
The 'old' house has no bathroom or toilet. You can see daylight through her front door, there is mould everywhere (in one room you can see where a leak (roof?) has followed the joints in the ceiling, causing a red mould).
The windows have cracks in the wall underneath, where a window fitter told her that she may have a problem with the house moving, there also large cracks outside, vertically across the bricks.
The house hasn't been touched for years. It would be regarded as in urgent need of renovation if it were for sale.
Mum's problem is that she's been told that if she does any improvement works, that it would be depravation of assets. The house desperately needs it though. Neither my sister or me like to go there as it is so bad (not to mention the mess and one of her dogs pees everywhere, so that room stinks).
She won't let anyone help her tidy. When dad's hospital bed came (for him to die at home), I spent time there tidying, yet mum went through every bag, in case I threw away anything important). I gave her a new phone, then she accused me of losing her photos. She got mad at my sister, accusing her of throwing away important things.
What complicates things. My sister and I are trustees of dad's estate until mum dies. I'm not sure how this affects things.
Can mum use some money for a new door, a new kitchen, new windows, maybe even a bathroom or not.