Few situations are harder than selling a parent’s home for care costs.
It feels urgent. Emotionally, it’s exhausting.
And the financial decisions involved are enormous.
I’ve worked with many families navigating this exact situation. In this guide, I’ll walk you through your options clearly – helping you protect as much value as possible during a very difficult time.
How Does Selling a House to Pay for Care Work?
Care costs in the UK are means-tested.
If your total assets – including property – exceed £23,250, you must fund your own care. That often means selling the family home.
There’s one important protection called the 12-week property disregard. When someone first moves into care, the council ignores the home’s value for the first 12 weeks while assessing what help you qualify for.
I’ve seen families use this window to start the sale process without pressure.
The council only includes the property if it’s solely owned by the person in care. If a spouse still lives there, it’s usually left out of the calculation.
If the property is jointly owned, the council can only count the share that belongs to the person in care. They can’t assume equal shares – so if ownership is split differently, you may need to provide evidence. A solicitor can help you establish this clearly before the assessment takes place.
Read more at Age UK’s guide on when you do and don’t have to sell your home to pay for care, and see our full guide on selling a probate property.
When Is Your Home Excluded From the Care Fees Assessment?
Not every homeowner has to sell – in some situations, the property is left out of the calculation entirely.
A Spouse or Civil Partner Still Lives in the Property
If your husband, wife, or civil partner still lives in the home, the local authority cannot count it in the care fees assessment.
The property is automatically disregarded for as long as they remain living there. This is one of the most important protections available to couples when one person moves into care.
A Dependent Relative Lives in the Property
If a dependent relative lives in the home, the property may also be disregarded.
This typically covers relatives who are elderly, disabled, or incapacitated and who rely on the home as their main residence. Whether this applies in a specific situation can depend on the local authority’s interpretation, so it’s worth getting advice.
A Carer Who Gave Up Their Own Home Lives in the Property
If someone gave up their own home to move in and care for you, the property may be excluded from the assessment.
This recognises the significant personal sacrifice the carer made. The carer must have moved in specifically to provide care – not simply been living there for other reasons.
The Person Only Needs Short-Term or Temporary Care
If the move into care is expected to be short-term or temporary, the home is usually left out of the financial assessment.
The property is only included when it becomes clear that the person won’t be returning. This distinction matters – and it’s worth understanding early to avoid unnecessary pressure to sell.
The Local Authority Exercises Its Discretion
Even when none of the above applies, a local authority can choose to disregard the property.
This doesn’t happen often, but it is within their power. If you’re also thinking about selling a property when emigrating, or managing other complex circumstances alongside care funding, getting specialist advice early makes a real difference. You can also read more about when a property is and isn’t counted in a care funding assessment on the Alzheimer’s Society website.
What Is a Deferred Payment Agreement and Is It the Right Option?
A Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) lets the council pay care fees on your behalf, then recover the money from the property when it eventually sells.
You must have savings below £23,250, not counting the property value, to qualify.
The council charges interest and admin fees on what it covers – these build up over time. I’ve seen families surprised by how large the debt grew after two or three years.
A DPA makes sense if you need more time before selling – for emotional or practical reasons. But if the property will sell anyway, a quick sale often works out cheaper overall. Compare your options carefully, especially if the home is tied up in a life interest trust.
Can You Rent Out the Property Instead of Selling?
If a DPA is in place, you can rent the property out instead of selling it straight away. The rental income goes towards the care fees, which reduces the debt building up with the council.
It sounds appealing. But rental income counts as taxable income and can affect benefit payments. Being a landlord from a distance, during an already stressful time, adds its own pressures. Get independent financial advice before going down this route.
Can You Give the Property Away to Avoid Care Fees?
Some families consider transferring the home to a relative to keep it out of the assessment. This rarely works.
If the council believes the property was given away to avoid care fees, it can treat it as still belonging to the person in care. The rules around this are called deliberate deprivation of assets. The council can go back years to investigate transfers. Getting caught means paying anyway – often with added complications. Take legal advice before transferring any property.
Practical Steps When Selling a Property to Fund Care
Get lasting power of attorney sorted first.
Without it, no one can legally act if the person in care loses mental capacity. This step alone can save months later.
Then get a property valuation for the council’s financial assessment. I’ve seen families skip this and end up in dispute with the council over what the home is worth.
Key steps to manage:
- Decide between an immediate sale or a DPA
- Arrange insurance on the empty property
- Check the council tax liability while it’s vacant
Get a free house valuation without selling to understand what the home is worth before any decisions are made.
How Property Buyers Today Helps Families in This Situation
I’ll level with you…
Selling to fund care is emotionally difficult and time-sensitive. Fees rack up quickly at £1,000+ per week, families feel pressure to sell fast, and traditional sales taking 4-6 months just drain the estate further.
When families sell houses fast with us for care funding, we complete in days, not months. This stops the financial haemorrhaging and gives families certainty during an already difficult time. We also cover all the solicitor costs.
Here’s why people in this situation choose to work with us…
Speed
Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.
This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse.
Guaranteed Sale
Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?
We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.
When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!
No Costs
You won’t face any costs with us.
We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.
No Stress Or Hassle
Our team supports you through the whole selling process.
We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.
Free Property Valuation
Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.
They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.
No Viewings Required
Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.
We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.
All Properties Welcome
Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.
We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.
Professional Legal Service
Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.
We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.
