{"id":409,"date":"2019-04-08T18:49:13","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T18:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yopa.co.uk\/homeowners-hub\/?p=409"},"modified":"2022-11-07T14:54:34","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T14:54:34","slug":"selling-home-for-assisted-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dy36.stage.yopa-dev.co.uk\/homeowners-hub\/selling-home-for-assisted-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Assisted Living: Do You Need To Sell Your Home?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From time to time, we all need help with our living arrangements, but for some, that help may be a daily necessity. What do you do when you need a level of assistance that your partner or your children cannot provide? It\u2019s at that point that you may begin to consider assisted living facilities with a view to maintaining a level of independence, yet still receiving the help you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is assisted living?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Assisted living facilities provide support when you need it, typically through a warden or perhaps through a series of carers, and because everything is located in one complex, it can be cheaper than home-based care. However, the majority of assisted living facilities are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission<\/a>, which regulates most health and social care services in England. As a result, standards can vary across the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who might benefit from assisted living facilities?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the most part, assisted living facilities are essentially a step between living independently in your own home and moving to a care home<\/a>. As a result, you will normally be able to access help with cooking or cleaning, if required, and you may have the space to store most \u2013 if not all \u2013 of your possessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s ideal for partners who require different levels of care, so if one partner needs significant help, a carer can come in for a few hours to assist with washing and getting dressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, you can take pets \u2013 although you will need to confirm this with the facility \u2013 and the facility should be designed around your needs. Easy-access doors, stairs and lifts may be standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you pay for these facilities?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Typically, these facilities are leased or rented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If rented, assisted living facilities and retirement communities should offer long-term rent options, allowing people security of tenure. However, not every facility offers this, and as a result many people look for leaseholds instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A leasehold<\/a> is a right to occupy the apartment for a number of years, which usually starts at 99 years or 125 years. You essentially purchase the remaining time on the lease, often from the company that manages the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This involves a substantial up-front cost, so many people will sell their home to move into one of these facilities. Alternatively, you could use savings or even your pension to pay off the mortgage<\/a>, if you have enough coming in each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also the question of management charges. Depending on the services offered, you have to pay a monthly or yearly charge. Services can include laundry, patrols, cooking and cleaning. Finally, you will likely have to pay a ground rent, which is payment for the ground underneath your house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In exchange, the landlord is responsible for the repairs and the upkeep of the building, although they may be able to charge for repairs outside standard maintenance budget (for example if the roof needs replacing).<\/p>\n\n\n

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Get a rough estimate of your home's value now.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n

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Book an appointment with your local Yopa agent.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

So what does the leasehold entitle me to?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, you have the right to \u2018quiet enjoyment,\u2019 which is a statutory right to live there undisturbed. You also have the right to a functional and working property, so the landlord has to make external repairs in a timely manner. However, you may be responsible for certain internal repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also have the right to dispute charges if they are excessive and you have the right to the services that you pay for as detailed in the lease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to look out for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common issues are around the amount you pay for services and management fees. These can escalate substantially, so you need to look at your leasehold contract carefully to ensure that you understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n