Moving into a "lived in" house.

[dcal20]

Hiya everyone! I'm new here and just looking for some advice.

A few years ago my mum passed away, I've been living with friends of hers who unfortunately turned out to be not so nice people. One of their many antics was putting their stuff all over my house I grew up in... in a very hoarder-ish fashion. My boyfriend and I are finally moving out at the end of the week and I'm confused. I just wish my mum was here to help me.

The house we are moving into has been in his family for years... so it comes with everything in it. And I mean everything. I'm desperate for a fresh start, this feels like a proper "escape" from the people I've been living with and I've never been so excited to get away from them. I just wish it was empty, and easier to make our own. It feels wrong to get rid of furniture, because it's been there for so long. The kitchen cupboards are full, do I chuck it all out for a fresh start? Or is it a complete waste? His cousin has left it in a bit of a state. Guinea pig piss on the carpet, broken oven, broken washing machine, more hoarder-esc habits, and cat shit in several places which I think has been cleared up. But there's just so much to do and I'm so jealous of people who get a blank canvas. We're going to be there for the rest of our lives, if we wish, and there are 5 bedrooms, but we can only use 2 because his uncle wants to come back and visit every few months with his kids... So for like 3 visits a year, we're missing out so much space. If anyone can help me out, I'd be eternally grateful. Feel free to ask questions - it's hard to know where to start!

If it’s their house, and he will be returning to it with his kids regularly, are they even happy with you getting rid of stuff? I’d be careful about this, people get oddly sentimental when other people get rid of their stuff, despite them not using it for several years.
It sounds like a minefield tbh.
If you are renting, can’t you just rent a smaller property that no other family members are going to come and invade?

I’d invite them to come over and remove anything they wanted from the house, and then I’d get house clearance people in and get them to clear the lot, except the furniture. Once that’s done I’d get a cleaning firm in to deep clean the place. Then I’d see what I had to work with.

I'm a bit confused, apologies, but are we talking about two different houses here?

It doesn't sound as though you have any legal rights to live in the home you've just moved into. What does the rental agreements say?
Has your boyfriend actually inherited this property?

This sounds like a disaster in the making.

To advise I think we need to know, do you have a rental agreement contact & what does it say, plus how much money do you have to spend?
If you were buying I'd say sell usable furniture for cheap on FB marketplace, box up crockery etc to give to charity shops, hire a company to remove the rest. Definitely replace all the carpets (guinea pig wee - eek!) And paint through yourselves.
If your situation is informal renting with strings attached though it could be wasted money. What sort of place could you rent for the same cost that is less complicated? Could that be an option?

I really wouldn’t move in to there, if it’s already a state then it’s guaranteed it’s going to be in disrepair too. You won’t be able to live there for your entire life, your uncle will have it go to his own children when he dies so any money you pour into it now is going to be wasted.

This sounds an odd arrangement. Don't do it unless it works for you

Don't spend ££ on repairs and improvements unless you have long term security of tenure. And, think what would happen if you and BF separate

If this is low rent, use the opportunity to save hard for a deposit for your own place

If I read this correctly the uncle is the owner/landlord. I think you need to mitigate any confusion/risk and have in writing the agreement around furniture/expectations. Ie are you allowed to remove and get rid of furniture and other personal items? Who is responsible for upkeep? If this is not agreed and written down you are at risk of throwing away items that they later want back. Or you are at risk of spending money improving the property and then being evicted or choosing to move out