Inheriting a house and nursing home fees.

[Brimoan]

My father is in a nursing home and meets the cruteria for NHS funding at present and will be re assessed in July 2013.
I inherited my mother's half and have lived with him since 2005.
Sadly the nurse in the home has said there is only a very slim chance he will be alive when his next assessment is due.
I have just inherited a house from a distant relative which is worth about £120,000 and want to sell it or possibly rent it out.
I did not expect this inheritance.The Social Worker has found out and has said as I now have an alternative property I will be obliged to sell the house I share with Dad if he does not meet NHS criteria next year and half its value could be used for the fees.
As the house is worth about £500,000 I want to keep the house I own with Dad.
I was advised as it is jointly owned and occupied by me it could not be sold by the council.
Has anybody else been in this situation.

[pink-kittens]

I think, that because this is YOUR inheritance and nothing to do with your father you are not liable to sell this house to pay fees but you may well be liable on his half of the house you own jointly

There are many posts in this section about nursing home fees - search them out for a definitive answer

[Tilly2]

If he meets the criteria this year, he will probably meet them again next year when he's even older.

[Canary42]

It would seem appropriate to get rid of the inherited house before the next asessment, which maintains the status quo as far as your domicile is concerned. The Social Worker is merely trying to protect his/her employers' budget and does not have YOUR interests at heart. However this is just my opinion, not a legal certainty, so you need professional advice. Try CAB.

[pink-kittens]

this might help with regard to you not being liable for fees because you have assets
http://www.theanswerb.../Question1113689.html

It isn't down to SS anyway who gets what anyway

[pink-kittens]

Why does it seem appropriate?
It's the OP's house not the fathers and nor it is anything to do with anything re fees to be paid

[factor-fiction]

Hello again Sarah.

As you will have seen Clive there are lots of threads on this topic on AB. I could attach many similar threads if you wish

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure what the issue is if he is eligible for NHS funding.
As pinkikittens has said, the unexpected inheritance you received is not relevant anyway to your father's assets is it.

[albaqwerty]

just curious, how did the Social Worker find out about YOUR inheritance?
I'd be strongly inclined to tell them to mind their own beeswax and look after your dad.

[factor-fiction]

Hello Homes123
I'm sure Brimoan will appreciate the trouble you have gone to in considering this and other members of AB will benefit from the discussion of the issues.
However I'm not sure what you say is right concerning the £120000 windfall and if I were Brimoan I would take legal advice

[factor-fiction]

I was wandering that too albaqwerty.

[mccfluff]

i told the social worker

[Messi_Ten]

...that wasn't very wise, Brimoan.

[factor-fiction]

Brimoan hasn't said he told the social worker- he said "The Social Worker has found out "
Is that right Jayne?

[chrissa1]

Who is Clive and Jayne???

[factor-fiction]

Good point Chrissa- it seems they were made-up names.

[sandyRoe]

These inherited properties seem to cause little but grief. I know I stand to inherit zilch so if anyone wants give one of these houses away I'd take it off their hands.

[chrissa1]

You winding me up factor??

[factor-fiction]

Not me.