Has anyone applied or have purchased a property for their son/daughter through My Safe Homes.
It will be interesting to hear how they are getting on.
I can only see my son living in a place of his own as he has autism and has very rigid behaviours. This appears to be a good option as we cannot see him living in a shared house or supported living setting.
We are at the very early stages of the application.
Any feedback will be very much appreciated.
Hi! We are in the early stages too. We have submitted the form and are awaiting feedback on eligibility. Fingers crossed.
Thank you, please let us know how you get on...good luck
we didn’t know anything about my safe homes but we did buy a flat on a buy to let mortgage and then let it to my daughter with the rent paid through her housing benefit. It’s worked very well. So can’t comment on my safe homes but the principle of providing a safe home for your child is an option that can work. We didn’t want her in a private rental where the tenancy might end at any time although we tried a private rental first to check she was happy living away from home before commiting to buying something.
We have done something similar for our two sons, which has worked very well for the past 8 years. Our big anxiety, however, is how to safeguard this arrangement for them in future years when we are too old/infirm/incapable of keeping on top of all the regular household maintenance, fixing energy tariffs, etc etc. It seems that there is never a week that goes by without something needing doing! We don't have any 'younger' family available to take up the reins and haven't been able to find a long-term solution.....yet. If anyone knows of a housing association or charity that can help please let me know!!
Hi. Yes we’re in the same position. I’ve just started the process to create a trust that will protect inheritance (including property) and we plan to get mencap to manage the property under this arrangement (once we’re gone). That’s a long term strategy but in the short term you could speak to alocal property management company and see if they’d manage it. They do this for blocks of flats so are set up with all the right insurance and other compliance requirements and of course have local trades on tap. Always go with an ARLA registered company.
Hi DrSarahmac ,
Once they inherit the property will they still be entitled to benefits? If you have bought it as a buy to let I assume there is a mortgage on the property in your name and that will have to be settled when you are no longer here?
Good morning. I am not in a position to give you an answer but can you explain how my safe home works as we are thinking to put something into place for our son . Thank you
hi
Its a part buy part rent scheme (shared ownership). Best for you to go on website type in MySafe Home Guide to Buying a Home of Your own. this will explain and also have contact numbers.
Shared home ownership works out a lot more expensive from my observation?
Yes we went through this process 4 years ago and it has been the best thing ever. My son now has the security of part ownership of his own home. They look after all the maintenance (you do pay a monthly fee) and are very helpful when going through all the startup processes and continue to help after it is all completed. Never found a fault and all team very friendly. My son keeps telling me how happy he is in his own home
I think this is what we want to look at long term for our daughter. She is presently in supported living around a 20 minute drive away. Although she is in her own self contained flat within a new build privately owned complex it is within a 12 flat complex. This means all the staff are shared out rather than just having a few staff allocated to her.My safe homes will give opportunity to find her a new build property walking distance or shorter drive from our house, with only a small number of staff supporting her 24/7.
Only obstacle will be the deposit. Looks as if will need about £17000. We will therefore need to save regularly in her contingency account to get the funds.
Our son purchased his house with the help of My Safe Home over 10 years ago. All I can say is it worked brilliantly then and he is still loving his independence in his own home. He lived in supported living for 2 years and he hated it - it simply was not right for him. The team at My Safe Home are extremely helpful. The difficulty you might have to face is having to find your own care staff - it's particularly difficult at the moment across the country - supported living arrangements recrut in larger numbers so they generally have cover. But having said that - I wouldn't change my son's current arrangement.
Thank you for this, very re-assuring. I agree regarding problems with carers but that is going to be the issue wherever they live in the future. (when we are no longer around to pick up the pieces)!...and supported living will probably make no difference to their needs not being met...
Hi what is my safe home is it a rented place or to buy property never heard of it before ?
Hi my son is in his own home with the help of MySafeHome. If is the best thing we ever did for him. MENCAP provide his support They are a charity that help you buy your own home. You can look them up on line. It’s a shared home were you buy part and MySafe home provide the rest. (You find the house and MySafeHome buy it for you) Yes you will need about £17,000 upfront to buy your part. They talk you through everything and they were brilliant. You then have to set up a mortgage (Advance organise all this) and you can get loan from DWP that pays most of the mortgage l. This does not have to be repaid until you either move or sell.
Hope this helps
we are in early stages of exploring HOLD and have submitted a pre-mortgage application to My Safe Homes. We are in the process of getting Deputyship for finance so we can sign necessary documents on our daughter’s behalf because she lacks capacity. The challenge is finding a housing association/registered provider to partner with and we are putting feelers out. It seems like a good option which will give her security in the longer term. She has a good care team who can support when she moves.
It’s encouraging that most people have had a positive experience with HOLD.
Hi, we are trying to purchase a house for my son through the HOLD scheme (Advance Housing Association and My Safe Home). We have crowd- funded a decent deposit amongst family, but even so, we are finding very few properties locally that meet the scheme criteria and are within our budget. My son does not get on well in groups and becomes disruptive, so shared supported living arrangements won't work and there is very limited provision where we live. This is the only viable option we have found but house prices have risen in the time it took to get our Deputyship sorted (14 months in total). How is anyone else faring? I could do with some positive news to keep me going! And do you have your social services on board? Despite us asking, ours have basically not engaged with us about housing at all.
Sorry cant give you a very positive reply at this stage.
We have only just started applying for COP so we wont be able to get very far with My Safe Homes until it is done. We are in the process of arranging our 1st stage appointment with them.
We appear to be in the similar position. Our son is very similar and there is with very little out there to meet his needs.
It appears we will have to find a huge deposit to find anything decent. Also we would like it to be close to family and I really dont think we will find anywhere.
I would be interested to hear how you get on.
We have found a possible house. It is ideally located. So my next step is to see if it will meet the specifications set by the housing association about condition, EPC rating etc. Fingers crossed.
Great news! Do you mind me asking what area you are looking at. Also my son wants a garden or at least a small garden. We are looking at the south east of UK.
The housing association didn't think the house was a possibility so we are still looking. In our search area the property condition and EPC required for the scheme are unlikely to be offered for sale within our budget. So still waiting/looking.
Lucacielle Racoons We are in the Avon area, and are looking for a place in our neighbourhood so that my son can remain in his community, which includes being near his wider family. Unfortunately houses here are mostly late Victorian or 1930's built LA (or ex LA) and there are few newer properties. The Housing Association(s) have said we need to find something that is a newer build, in good condition (basically little/no works needed), decent EPC, with at least 125yrs on the lease (if leasehold). My son needs a garden. One house came up in January that met all criteria. It was £35k over our budget and sold within the week.
Thank you for sharing....it appears we might get a similar problem....we have our first meeting this coming week with My Safe Homes but it could be some time before we start looking for a property and with prices going up all the time....looks like we will have to find a good deposit to get a house with a garden.
Hi how are you getting on with HOLD? We’re just about the embark on this for our daughter who wants to live independently. She gets PIP but not UC as she lives at home and has a part time cafe job. Can I ask if you have done this this just onPIP or is UC a non- negotiable? We’ll be looking in Kent so prices will be high. Thanks 😊
I started exploring My Safe Home earlier this year for my 24 yr old son who is unable to work. He receives PIPS and UC. I had a few reservations about My Safe Home so thought I'd look to see if any other options. Fortunately found an amazing Mortage Broker and next week my son takes possession of 2 bed new build shared ownership (housing association). He has a 25% share which he has a mortage for based on his PIPS and UC. A deposit was required but less than My Safe Home. If anyone wants the details of the wonderful Brooker we used or has any questions about the process please feel free to ask.
Hi
Yes please can you send details of the broker you are using and also the process of it all.
Sorry only just saw you message today
Hopefully you can see reply to Mabelline
Of course
Andrew Watson awatson@echofinance.co.uk
My son has purchased a new build shared ownership property. Valued at £205,000 He has a 25% share which is mortgaged. We were lucky enough to be able to put £10,000 deposit. So mortgage of £42,000 (Barclays) over 42 yrs is £203 a month. Rental on the 75% housing association £352 + £28 service fee a month. Which will be covered by Universal Credit housing payments
Solicitors fees came to just under £2,000 .Costs more as new build, shared ownership, leasehold (990 yrs)
Hard to find a mortgage advisor who is interested when you mention PIPS and Universal Credit but Andrew was amazing. Unlike My Safe home set up my son's will be responsible for any repairs on property. But as its a new build should be fine for a good few yrs.
Contact Andrew to see if he can help. You will need credit report, bank statements, proof of PIPS letter detailing how much, proof of Universal Credit, proof of deposit (from buyer or person gifting money)
My son will move into his new home on Monday and he is overjoyed. After such a difficult time since Covid derailed his life he is smiling again
thanks so much that is really helpful. Im so pleased for your son, wishing him every happiness in his new home 😍
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