Private rental for elderly parents

[JustcameoutGC]

So, trying to get my elderly parents who live in Donegal shifted to live near me, and be closer to all the family.

My dad hates change and we have come to the conclusion that the best way to get them shifted is to find them a 6-12 month rental, and get them over ASAP.

I have looked at retirement place rentals, but the prices are shocking, and there are very few 2 bed places which they will need. So, thinking about a normal private rental for 6 to 12 months in the first instance.

They are 80, fully mobile and in reasonable health, they could pay the full year's rent up front if needs be.

Would renting to an aul couple be an issue with landlords?

Not usually in my experience (20 years as an estate agent!) older people are generally brilliant tenants

They'd be on pensions which are about the only stable income. They will have run a house for decades. They are unlikely to be drug dealers or vulnerable to such with you nearby. If they don't smoke and don't have pets any sane landlord will be delighted to have them.

Are you in a position to buy them a flat and charge them rent? A friend does that with his parents - charges them a pound a month.

Only if the op can buy the flat outright, no BTL mortgage will accept that. And the advice is never rent to family.

I would have no problem. I don't care what age my tenants are. My best tenants have been students so far, my worst a middle aged guy. Age doesn't bear any relation to how they will be as tenants in my experience.

Do they want to move?

Thanks all. There are quite a few really nice suitable places very near me.

But no, I don't have the means to buy them a property. A 2 bed in my town starts at £250k... They won't make that much from the sale of their house.

Have you looked at warden controlled flats owned by the council? My mum did this with my grandad, a couples flat don’t get snapped up as quickly as single occupancy and instant group of similar aged people to socialise with. This will reduce their reliance on you for company and conversation. My grandad didn’t need warden controlled flat when he moved in but as he aged it’s been a gods send. No maintenance or any DIY or sorting out of contractors etc.

I think that would be a fab option in the medium term but in the short term we just want them shifted.

@JustcameoutGC my Grandad got his flat in under a month of waiting so depending on availability might not be a long wait.