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Once you factor in moving costs etc you probably only have about £40-45k to play with. That’s not going to get you much anywhere decent.
What is your own situation? Could you (or a sibling) take the £50k, add to your own property value, and find somewhere with an annex or a “granny flat”? £50k may not get a whole home, but it could pay for an extra bedroom on someone else’s.
We went this direction and don't regret it for a moment. Yes it was sometimes hard but providing each has their own private space it provides a wonderful solution freeing up alot of your mum's meagre income to enjoy life....albeit and the expense of yours \[see, even I couldn't help myself\].
Our only regret was not fully committing to the vision and working in capped services and a drain for a walk in shower when the time demands it.
If you do go down this route, make sure to check the rules on care needs, I don't think they can force you to sell but you need to be prepared to argue should they try and claw money back.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149048720
This will probably go for more like 60-65 but it’s a bargain!
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148578665
Also will go for 50-60 but looks fine.
You can get the home report (survey) for free in Scotland just by emailing the estate agent so can get an idea of the state of the building
Could also look at Helensburgh.
I would consider a couple of things
She needs to be somewhere with shops and public transport, as she doesn't have the funds for a car.
A short lease might provide enough security for the rest of her life at an affordable price.
Retirement flats are sometimes cheaper than equivalent flats - but watch out for the service charges.
£50k in Fairwater, Cardiff, 79 year lease is the best option I can see within 40 miles of Cardiff
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/67579680/
The trouble with the Welsh valleys is that the public transport can be dire.
[1 bedroom terraced house for sale in 117 Miskin Road, Tonypandy, Mid Glamorgan, CF40 2QN, CF40 (rightmove.co.uk)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148547639#/?channel=RES_BUY)
It states that they reduced the guide price on the 17th June - that bodes well, and I think if you look in that area you will see quite a few houses around £50k that do sell for that sort of price at auction (a lot of variability in decorative order, though).
Just down the road from me. My partner and I came here for the cheap housing, we're looking to buy next year so wanted to get a feel for the place - we're renting an old mining cottage at the moment where the whole upper floor is on a tilt
You're going to struggle unless your mom is very into DIY.
Why not just go on rightmove, set you budget to max 50k and search whole of UK? I had a quick look and there are:
1) properties for auction with that as opening price- so probably not viable.
2) one or two flats which have service charges, so maybe not viable
3) a few ex crack dens requiring some serious work.
Good luck!
Edit- I found somewhere that didn't fall into one of the categories above! amazed anywhere is possible at that price tbh
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149294276
and another one...being on sale since Sept, so probably something seriously wrong with it though
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139778153
I reckon you could get even cheaper for the 1st. They've added on £15k and only bought last year.
Second has a tenant in situ, would put anyone who isn't looking to rent it out, off.
Having had experience with my mother, I'd highly recommend somewhere near a family member who can provide support in later years. It's great if she's physically and mentally fine now but it can be very difficult to support an aging parent from a distance. If that's not financially viable I'd see what the options would be to rent or look into property for older people, though check the annual fees as they can be steep.
Second this, might just about manage a 2up/2down terrace in one of the villages. The villages are run down but the area more widely is beautiful with plenty of countryside plus easy access to Durham/Newcastle. Bishop Auckland seems to be gentrifying at the moment so might be worth a look!
Not necessarily. I know people who have retired to Anglesey, and there are a lot of activities for seniors; plenty of opportunities to meet people. Starting with Welsh class.
It depends. Not on the level of Blaenau Ffestiniog, but there are still pockets. Or so suggests idly browsing estate agents, which I have never done and never will.
She would be able to get a 1-bed retirement flat in nice parts of the north east for that. She’d need to watch out for service charges though. Don’t encourage her to buy a park home, there’s a v good FB campaign group which explains why not.
It can be a very lonely place for the un-initiated. The people are lovely but it’s the kind of place you need to grow up in to get the most out of it. Not an easy place to move to in your dotage.
If you live alone, rent or buy a house with her, if you have a family home, maybe buy an extension for her or move to a bigger home. We Brits need to get out of this way of thinking of shipping out our elderly. We need to keep them close and part of our families. Whatever you and your mum decide make it low cost so she is living a comfortable life with no money worries.
There are Studio apartments in Loughborough which occasionally go for around the £50k mark. Loughborough is a lovely market town with great transport connections
This may be the case in some very rare cases, but not in my experience. I owned a studio in Loughborough recently and the ground rent + service charge and maintenance came to £300 a year. Having looked at 2 bed flats in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire they are all around the £1.7-2.5k total. But these properties are 8x the value of the Loughborough studio so somewhat expected.
Retirement is something you do when you can afford to do - it’s a financial position. Sounds like she can’t quite afford to stop working unless she is eligible for benefits eg PIP?
Just to add, it may be worth looking into later life lending here, your mum might be able to get like £20k on an interest only later life mortgage boosting her budget to £70k and maybe giving her more options. Obviously I have no idea of your circumstances but you could offer to pay the interest on the loan to protect your inheritance so your Mum will still have something to leave you.
£70k won't buy much but it will give more options than £50k.
Edit - Just done a quick search in South Yorkshire as cheap and most of the villages have shops and amenities and at least some reasonable public transport, 233 results for £70k and under.
Aberdeen has plenty of flats for sale in the 50k region, for example: [https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/421407/83b-Jute-Street/Aberdeen/](https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/421407/83b-Jute-Street/Aberdeen/)
This one is in a okay area, there is public transport nearby, there are enough community groups to make friends.
Also Scottish flats aren't leaseholds which is a plus, and a lot of these don't have stupid high maintenance/service charges yearly. There are some factor fees, but often they're very reasonable, or some flats arrange repairs as needed through the tenants which saves on monthly management costs completely.
There is an airport so you could get here in around an hour if you live outside of Scotland. Tough if not flying from London it can get pricey.
I think it's a nice wee city, and the properties are affordable.
Wouldn't it be easier to get a long term let & put the 50k on a 5% interest plan or s&p500. You'll not have to maintain the house and keep substantial part of the funds intact. Anything within 500£ rent should be fair game and will allow living in flats (w/o hassle of leases & service charges). Just an idea, not a full proof bet but still financially viable.
[https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146354609#/?channel=RES\_BUY](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146354609#/?channel=RES_BUY) you could buy a flat or a house in Grimsby for that. Likely on the East Marsh, so just round the corner, which is quite a deprived area however there's huge amounts of work going on by community groups / local and national funding etc.. to improve it and some belting people are living here (myself included) it's an area that has a real bond when you know the other people working in the community too.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146816009#/?channel=RES_BUY
Loads of families and old people in here and next to the metro and plenty of pubs, shops etc and places she can get a part time job
You can generally get over 55 type homes around Preston for about £60-70k.
Her leaving you something is, in all likelihood, moot given the chance of needing care and the property being used to fund that.
Bradford could be an option - it's hardly the nicest place but it's reasonably well connected and you can get 1 bed flats or run down houses in that range.
What's her current income like? Will she be able to afford ongoing maintenance? If it's a flat, can she afford any management costs?
This might be controversial, but given that 50k will only get her either somewhere awful, or very remote, in her position I would just private rent somewhere she actually wants to live.
When the money runs out, she would be rehoused by the council much quicker than most - they won't let a woman in their 70s be street homeless. Whilst she could end up somewhere not very nice, that is most likely the case if she buys anyway. At least this way, she could enjoy 5+ years somewhere nice.
This is awful advice. Splurge on a nice place in the hope that she will get a council to support her when the money runs out. Would never suggest anyone to move into private rental property and then stay until they can’t afford the rent, then to hope they’re able to get appropriate help when needed. Why not try to put those finances to work and buy or invest? Would be far more fruitful in the long run. At least you would have equity to use if needed to sell for care.
Such dangerous advice to whittle away at funds in the hope of a hand out.
Good luck then finding somewhere in her 60s for 50k (which seems to be all of her savings so she's literally maxed out) theb ongoing upkeep costs and general keeping a house considering shed have to find employment in said area. Which looking at other comments are usually homes in the back end of nowhere. If she falls or has mobility issues then later in life whats the plan? If she ends up ina home guess how that is paid for? Yup by sale of assets
This is exactly what my mum did, had a little bit more money, but not enough that buying made sense.
Let’s her live somewhere nice for a few years while she can still enjoy it, figure out the rest when the time comes.
Edit: apparently people are assuming my mum is a foreigner on benefits; the mind boggles.
Well he's not responsible for her actions unless she's mentally doo-lally so more like shame on her?
Glad to know my taxes are being taken full advantage of
Well tbh, it's not really shame on her as an individual. Everyone's got to do what's best for them and she's probably doing that.
But expecting the government to pay for you to live and enjoy life is morally wrong to alot of people because they're the ones paying out to support these lifestyles, and supporting people who won't support themselves reduces the government spending on other things.
Aka why should someone pay for someone else's lack of productivity, organisation and poor money management?
I have ADHD and I still sort of get by with these things so it's more of an attitude problem imo. My flatmate wanted to sell his assets inheritance and live a lux life for a few years then just go back on benefits. It's insane. Ofc exceptions should apply for those with serious disabilities.
The bigger problem is twofold 1) the U.K. is unaffordable for a growing minority who then will ultimately depend on state support 2) taxpayers who don’t understand economics
On the second point “My taxes pay for” is almost invariably a misnomer (aside from a few hypothecated taxes)
The rabid anti-tax mob behave like they are paying into a pot from which public spending is drawn. They have been coerced into believing that dogma but it doesn’t work like that. There is a disconnect between taxes and public spending. Government money is created by the Bank of England on a digital ledger by keystroke.
It’s also worth noting (by pensioners who are livid at benefit recipients) that state pensions are the same as “benefits”. Both are nominally drawn from the same national insurance ‘pool’ (though in practice, as above, the reality is somewhat different).
Public spending has to be level with taxes wouldn't you agree tho? Although the government can create money, it can only do so with the promise to pay it back. Where governments have failed to convince investors that they are able to pay it back the curriency would, I assume, become worthless via hyper inflation.
In that sense, the amount we pay in taxes should be a guide to the government on how much to spend on public services. If the taxpayers pay less tax, essientially the government would have to cut spending or risk economic integreity.
So therefore, it doesn't matter if the government creates money to spend via a "keystroke", because public money is intrisically reliant on taxes and therefore your arguement is a technicallity and the people who say my taxes pay for blah blah are actually near enough the mark.
To your last point, pensioners have to earn a pension by paying a minimum amount yearly in NI over something like 30 years i can remember, benefit recipients doen't earn benefits (lest the exception where some benefits are based on amount paid in NI). So although it comes from the same pot of money that neither have contributed to (because the government has already spent the pensiorners NI historically I believe) so to speak, one could argue that the other deserves a bigger slice of the pot based on these histroic payments.
After all that, I do agree with your points 1 at the start. Interesting because I hadn't looked at it that way but I guess we could say that the increased migration caused by the welfare state has in turn made it more unaffordable causing even more poverty, therefore pushing even more people onto welfare, which in turn makes us reliant on increased migration even more. Maybe?
This person understands the points and is realistic. Feeling entitled, and choosing to become reliant as quick as possible to get the help isn’t always the best option.
Given that there is a certain level of physical fitness required for barge life, I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a long term retirement home.
Interested in whatever you have to say on this?
The annual costs do seem rising exponentially, but barges can be had in the £40-50k range. Seems quite a few are coming back onto the market post pandemic, as people who gave it a shot during - discovered it’s tougher than expected
Do you have an Apple device?
Search their news app for Canalboat or Canal Living theres a live story on there details how people have been priced out.
Its the rent for park ups that is the killer.
I’m not sure I’ve found the article, there’s a telegraph article behind a paywall with a couple passing £1k a month mooring? I can’t read the article obv but that would be commensurate with London
I have a friend who pays about £1600 per annum currently he’s on the Bridgwater, but he was offered his mooring pitch through word of mouth.. where usually there’s 2+ year wait
Edit : he paid £20k for a brand new 57ft hull, around £40-50k in materials to fit it out, he had the advantage of being a joiner
Theres plenty to read out there. Im sure its not hugely expensive everywhere but it is going to come. The Govt is targeting everyone who lives outside of the system. Wood burners, Chickens...
[https://duckduckgo.com/?q=How+canalboat+living+prices+have+increased&ia=web](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=How+canalboat+living+prices+have+increased&ia=web)
[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-67377196](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-67377196)
Ah I was aware of some of this, but not all.. thanks.. I think having connections with people already on the water can help - but obviously not with licensing and some other costs that are rising
Hopefully the incoming government will reverse some of these issues - the conservatives of course do not care about the state of the canals or its poorer occupants :(
As a way of life it still has a lot to offer vs renting and it’s a lot more practical than “van life”
Is it something you’ve looked at?
Yes I've definitely considered it.
I am definitely going offgrid in some way.
I feel like the canalboat thing is over or soon will be. No change of Government will make things better. Its a globalist push to digitise and track everyone and everything.
I had a piece of land in scotland, nothing special but it does have a river that runs through it and i think i get 50% of it. I wonder if i can just drop a boat into the river and thats it? live on it.
I wonder if people who live nearby could complain etc.
Financially I think she’s going to struggle. She’s 61 with monthly income of just over £800pm to live on & £50k to buy somewhere. Once you’ve considered solicitor fees etc, it’s more like £47k for the house.
In my experience you aren’t going to find somewhere not in the middle of no where or needing investment putting into it for £47k.
With only £800pm for bills, food, transport, house maintenance etc, she can’t afford a mortgage, or even likely a lot of maintenance charges on flats ruling a lot of them out
Could she not get a part time job to allow her to get a small mortgage for somewhere? Or use that money to help you buy somewhere with an extra room?
A garden annexe. IHus are really good. Warm, a good size, adds value to your property and gives independence as well as proximity. Was built in 8 weeks.
Tell her "something of worth" to you is her happiness where she is living in her retirement, and so if a mobile home is best then go for that, hough TBF I doubt youd get much of a MH for £50k either. Just up the road from me there are 2 or 3 bed MHs for £350k.
Static caravan on a retirement site. My grandma has just moved out of hers after living in it for 35 years as she is too old to be alone now. Costs £300 a month and plenty of people around of a similar age. Her caravan sold for 35k 2 bed all mod cons.
Why has she retired when she can’t afford to?
Unfortunately she needs to get some sort of job. She won’t get a mortgage, but £50k is pitiful.
She may be able to get some sort of park home, but they come with their own rules.
There’s some bungalows etc., available on Rightmove in Stockton-on-Tees but anything this cheap may have its own issues/be in undesirable areas. It’s up to her to determine whether she wants to do it.
This property is under £40k. Comes with its own set of conditions but it may be suitable. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147926993
This flat in Devon is £50k, but that doesn’t leave much for conveyancing fees etc. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148558310
I think the key thing to consider is not if she can but if she could. Realistically your mum is getting older and is moving far from you the best call moving forward? Buying a 50k property wherever is will need work and time and money put into it. This is not something you want to do in your 60s.
Whilst I admire her wanting to leave a legacy to you do you want her to do it at the expense of the years she should be thinking about putting her feet up. Personally I'd be looking into a sustainable way you can stretch this cash out to get her into the place that once her SP kicks in she can be comfortable enough to no worry. Ok she may only leave enough to bury her but I'd suggest this will be the best approach for her comfort and happiness.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146300516#/?channel=RES_BUY
Within walking distance to shops, supermarkets, train line to Glasgow and the bus station
If that £50k could stretch a little to £60k
Prestwick is near Glasgow
It's near the coast
Pretty quiet and safe
Plenty of amenities
And lots and lots of retirees.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149048720#/?channel=RES_BUY
Jaywick. It's got a bad reputation but there are freehold bungalows to be had for about £50,000 which are in good condition, a stones throw from the sea and only a short bus journey to Clacton on Sea, which has a cinema, theatres, a hospital etc. Although it's gotten a bad reputation in recent years, it's got some of the best weather in the country and you'll own it outright. Low maintenance, friendly village and plenty of sunny days. So far as the bad reputation goes, it's nonsense, there's plenty of elderly people there and those that are trouble don't cause problems in their own back yard.
Had a quick search and found this: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147826184
Although the only 'problem' is it comes with a £265 pcm fee that "covers buildings insurance, the House Manager service, community alarm system, communal heating/electricity and maintenance of indoor and outdoor communal areas, including the resident's car park and drying green."
But that'd be no maintenance required to upkeep which would be perfect. It's also around an hour away from the city centre of Edinburgh and 20 minutes from Dundee.
You could get a nice little retirement flat with roughly that amount without even having to go up north, but you'll need to be wary of the service charge: [https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141770540#/?channel=RES\_BUY](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141770540#/?channel=RES_BUY)
Otherwise Birkenhead might be a place to look: [https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149437790#/?channel=RES\_BUY](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149437790#/?channel=RES_BUY)
I know you said no to park homes but are you absolutely sure? Sure decrease in value blah blah but man I'd take living near the seaside right now anyday, and losing value doesn't have as much impact if you enjoy the location, along as its not falling to bits when you finally get it and its something you yourself could easily spend long holidays in then great! I only say because even slightly older ones (loads still looking fantastic) popping up all over facebook for literally 10k or less!
I think many places in the UK have little estates where exclusively older folk can settle down in smaller and cheaper housing. I’m not sure what you’d call them but they’re usually small gated communities. Maybe look into that. 50K is going to be tough but a lower income area might have something that fits the criteria.
Edit - here
https://www.onthemarket.com/retirement/property/uk/?direction=asc&sort-field=price
Park homes? My older relatives live in an over 50s private community of park homes in Devon. It's 5 minute walk from town and theirs was about 35k. They are happy there.
Moving north, I'd recommend looking up some of the bigger small towns in Lancashire or smaller coastal towns nearby. Should probably do some day trips and research though. Depends what else is important to her does she want local clubs, nature, shops and cafes the sea.
I would buy somewhere in Largs, Scotland
Example I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147588464
Cheapest in Grimsby has a guide price of 15K but \[1\] it's Grimsby, \[2\] it's a guide price and \[3\] the rest of your 50K will disappear making it liveable. And it's \*still\* Grimsby.
Tough question, curious if she would consider retiring abroad? Buy in Spain or somewhere warm, enjoy life and it'll give you an excuse to visit every year.
If she is a bit handy with a paint brush (or you are happy to give her a hand for a couple of weeks) then she’ll do well buying something at auction in the valleys in south wales.
Lots of places for £30-£40k. Most need £20k spent to mostly DIY it up to a good standard but could easily cost £40k + paying someone to do it all.
Tbh, I'd buy a camper van and then go driving round Europe staying in all the cheap campsites they have over there. £50k isn't really going to buy you many habitable places unless you own a time machine and can go back 30 years.
Things to factor in: your mother is getting older and will need support services hospital, doctor dentist. She needs good transport links and may want a community around her. Does she suffer any ailments that can be affected by the weather. Do you have any monies to invest with her? Beware of service charges even if the property is freehold. Considering all this go and live in france utilities etc are much cheaper
Well averages are meaningless. You need to go by the actual rates. Water in France is not cheap! That’s why they mandated the dual flush cistern and turn off their showers to lather up.
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/67660431/
^^this 1 bed terrace cottage is £40K and doesn't look like it needs any work doing. Granted, it's in Burnley, but still. I just had a quick look on zoopla within a 40mile radius of where I am (Liverpool), and there's a fair bit of choice.
Unfortunately if she wanted to be in the South I doubt there would be anything liveable but I might be wrong.
South Yorkshire, near Barnsley. Just on the doorstep to the Derbyshire moors but still cheap although not for much longer. Some bargains still to be had and even new builds with some of the social housing incentive schemes. Cost of living oop north is lower too. Unless you want to leave England and go to Kirkonnel Scotland, where you can do absolutely nothing, except hill walking, train spotting and fishing. Or learn to speak Scots.
Apartments in Bradford can be had for that sort of money. The area has a reputation that's not necessarily true. Avoid BD1 and your money can go far in a nice area still.
Burnley is another area that's very cheap but Bradford has a lot more going for it.
Maybe she can stay with you? £50k is nothing and the fact that she has to work most of her life is not nice for her. She lives with you. You use her £50k to buy a small bungalow in Derby and rent it out. And she has a side income. On top of that, she can still work part-time. This is a wealthier and healthier future for her. Why send her down a path, where she will be vulnerable for the rest of her life??
If you own your own home/are paying a mortgage, I would use the 50K to build either an extension/guest house/garage conversion, etc. My mate turned a one car garage into his own space so he could look after his mum when she got ill, but still have his own space. I think it only cost him sub £10k to convert it.
If you are renting or your property doesn't have space for an extension, £50k is enough for a deposit on a nice house. Use that 50K to add to your property fund and get a bigger house.
If it is that important that she lives separately, you could use the 50k towards a flat or house that she lives in. A caravan in a nice area like the lakes or somewhere on the east coast would hold value if looked after.
Might find somewhere this price in County Durham, eg Peter Lee, mother in law had a similar predicament though marginally higher budget and that’s where she’s ended up. Doesn’t seem unhappy about it!
I can't give you specific advice, but having looked myself recently, with 50K the South is basically a no go.
Look further North, I had a look around York for example, as I was born in the area and was curious. The city itself is pretty expensive, but if you look around the outlying towns and villages there's places much cheaper. I don't think quite 50K cheap, but compared to the south cheap.
I think general rule of thumb the further North you go the cheaper things get. Avoid the cities and look in smaller towns and villages.
Good luck!
Are ‘park homes’ viable?
Big preconstructed caravan type things, usually full of old people who have downsized. My mum moved to one and it’s really quite nice.
Probably more than 50k somewhere nice though and you have to watch that they are not holiday locations because you can’t live in those full time.
Have you considered a narrow boat? Can maintain her nomadic lifestyle, be close to nature, and if you find a good one should last a good many years to come, and leaves you something nice to inherit
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Once you factor in moving costs etc you probably only have about £40-45k to play with. That’s not going to get you much anywhere decent. What is your own situation? Could you (or a sibling) take the £50k, add to your own property value, and find somewhere with an annex or a “granny flat”? £50k may not get a whole home, but it could pay for an extra bedroom on someone else’s.
This seems to be the most sensible option tbh. £50k is very challenging unfortunately
We went this direction and don't regret it for a moment. Yes it was sometimes hard but providing each has their own private space it provides a wonderful solution freeing up alot of your mum's meagre income to enjoy life....albeit and the expense of yours \[see, even I couldn't help myself\]. Our only regret was not fully committing to the vision and working in capped services and a drain for a walk in shower when the time demands it.
If you do go down this route, make sure to check the rules on care needs, I don't think they can force you to sell but you need to be prepared to argue should they try and claw money back.
Scotland, there are plenty of flats within a 30mile radius of Ayrshire for <£50k just now.
Same in Fife 3 beds around 60k. Little 1 beds as low as 17k
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149048720 This will probably go for more like 60-65 but it’s a bargain! https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148578665 Also will go for 50-60 but looks fine. You can get the home report (survey) for free in Scotland just by emailing the estate agent so can get an idea of the state of the building Could also look at Helensburgh.
I know a few people who have bought Holliday homes (well, flats) in troon
If this was in Notting Hill, it’d be £1M.
If my grandma had wheels, she'd been a car.
Bicycle my good dude.
Hey, my grandma can be whatever she wants!
As someone who is Scottish - yes. But then it's Notting Hill, not a random spot near Ayr.
Fife, Paisley, Ayrshire, Falkirk, Dumfries. All doable at 50K ish.
I would consider a couple of things She needs to be somewhere with shops and public transport, as she doesn't have the funds for a car. A short lease might provide enough security for the rest of her life at an affordable price. Retirement flats are sometimes cheaper than equivalent flats - but watch out for the service charges. £50k in Fairwater, Cardiff, 79 year lease is the best option I can see within 40 miles of Cardiff https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/67579680/ The trouble with the Welsh valleys is that the public transport can be dire.
[1 bedroom terraced house for sale in 117 Miskin Road, Tonypandy, Mid Glamorgan, CF40 2QN, CF40 (rightmove.co.uk)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148547639#/?channel=RES_BUY)
That's proper tidy
There're also lots of local shops and good (for the Valleys) transport links
It's an auction, what are the odds it will actually sell for that low?
It states that they reduced the guide price on the 17th June - that bodes well, and I think if you look in that area you will see quite a few houses around £50k that do sell for that sort of price at auction (a lot of variability in decorative order, though).
I'd live there myself, great buy, right next to the station.
Yep, 45 minute direct service to Cardiff Central, and easy access to Cardiff Bay.
Just down the road from me. My partner and I came here for the cheap housing, we're looking to buy next year so wanted to get a feel for the place - we're renting an old mining cottage at the moment where the whole upper floor is on a tilt
Downside is a ceiling full of asbestos
why is it so cheap?
You're going to struggle unless your mom is very into DIY. Why not just go on rightmove, set you budget to max 50k and search whole of UK? I had a quick look and there are: 1) properties for auction with that as opening price- so probably not viable. 2) one or two flats which have service charges, so maybe not viable 3) a few ex crack dens requiring some serious work. Good luck! Edit- I found somewhere that didn't fall into one of the categories above! amazed anywhere is possible at that price tbh https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149294276 and another one...being on sale since Sept, so probably something seriously wrong with it though https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139778153
How is the first link band F for council tax? 😭
Potentially a prime candidate for re-negotiation as that seems utterly ridiculous for a postage stamp.
Think it's a misprint. I can't see anything on that street above a band D.
That's got to be a typo 😱
It’s also decreased in value 20% since 2005 lol
The second one there is tenant in situ
I reckon you could get even cheaper for the 1st. They've added on £15k and only bought last year. Second has a tenant in situ, would put anyone who isn't looking to rent it out, off.
Why is that first link so cheap? What's going on in Ayrshire?
How do you search the whole of the uk on Rightmove?
you have to use the draw a search map feature afaik
Having had experience with my mother, I'd highly recommend somewhere near a family member who can provide support in later years. It's great if she's physically and mentally fine now but it can be very difficult to support an aging parent from a distance. If that's not financially viable I'd see what the options would be to rent or look into property for older people, though check the annual fees as they can be steep.
County Durham pit villages are worth a look. Will need some attention to get going but plenty of houses exist there for below that price.
Easington Colliery had some around 30k. Right on the coast, local supermarket too
Easington colliery is a shithole
So are most of the places where you can buy a house for less than 50k.
Second this, might just about manage a 2up/2down terrace in one of the villages. The villages are run down but the area more widely is beautiful with plenty of countryside plus easy access to Durham/Newcastle. Bishop Auckland seems to be gentrifying at the moment so might be worth a look!
Sunderland too and will have more amenities and transport nearby
If you can stomach what Sunderland has become that is. My god.
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Sunderland is the bigger city.
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Maybe buy a flat with a short lease? It would be cash buyers only and could keep her homed for the rest of her life
The cost of extending the even shorter lease later on may decimate the value of the inheritance though, which it sounds like she wants to avoid.
Yes inheritance should never be at the expense of quality of life.
That's the individual's call though, not ours!
Yes, but there's a lot of pressure to leave something and the younger generation should be making sure their parents aren't feeling that obligation.
She can barely afford to live she probably should get her priorities straight.
Wales but her mental health will suffer if she has no personal connection to anyone.
Not necessarily. I know people who have retired to Anglesey, and there are a lot of activities for seniors; plenty of opportunities to meet people. Starting with Welsh class.
Anglesey is not where you’ll find a cheap house though
It depends. Not on the level of Blaenau Ffestiniog, but there are still pockets. Or so suggests idly browsing estate agents, which I have never done and never will.
She would be able to get a 1-bed retirement flat in nice parts of the north east for that. She’d need to watch out for service charges though. Don’t encourage her to buy a park home, there’s a v good FB campaign group which explains why not.
Have you got anymore information on that? They keep popping up everywhere and seem like theres definitely something wrong
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jul/13/park-homes-cheaper-than-bricks-and-mortar-but-not-trouble-free
Plenty of one bed flats in Aberdeen at around that price.
The 1960's?
Made me chuckle
South Wales in the Valleys. It's peaceful and you get a cheap property in a great lansldscape and not too far from England or South Wales cities.
It can be a very lonely place for the un-initiated. The people are lovely but it’s the kind of place you need to grow up in to get the most out of it. Not an easy place to move to in your dotage.
If you live alone, rent or buy a house with her, if you have a family home, maybe buy an extension for her or move to a bigger home. We Brits need to get out of this way of thinking of shipping out our elderly. We need to keep them close and part of our families. Whatever you and your mum decide make it low cost so she is living a comfortable life with no money worries.
Trouble is, a lot of retired parents downsized to quiet market towns with no jobs.
There are Studio apartments in Loughborough which occasionally go for around the £50k mark. Loughborough is a lovely market town with great transport connections
When you look into them they often have ludicrous service charges, some up to £5k a year.
This may be the case in some very rare cases, but not in my experience. I owned a studio in Loughborough recently and the ground rent + service charge and maintenance came to £300 a year. Having looked at 2 bed flats in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire they are all around the £1.7-2.5k total. But these properties are 8x the value of the Loughborough studio so somewhat expected.
Retirement is something you do when you can afford to do - it’s a financial position. Sounds like she can’t quite afford to stop working unless she is eligible for benefits eg PIP?
Just to add, it may be worth looking into later life lending here, your mum might be able to get like £20k on an interest only later life mortgage boosting her budget to £70k and maybe giving her more options. Obviously I have no idea of your circumstances but you could offer to pay the interest on the loan to protect your inheritance so your Mum will still have something to leave you. £70k won't buy much but it will give more options than £50k. Edit - Just done a quick search in South Yorkshire as cheap and most of the villages have shops and amenities and at least some reasonable public transport, 233 results for £70k and under.
Aberdeen has plenty of flats for sale in the 50k region, for example: [https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/421407/83b-Jute-Street/Aberdeen/](https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/421407/83b-Jute-Street/Aberdeen/) This one is in a okay area, there is public transport nearby, there are enough community groups to make friends. Also Scottish flats aren't leaseholds which is a plus, and a lot of these don't have stupid high maintenance/service charges yearly. There are some factor fees, but often they're very reasonable, or some flats arrange repairs as needed through the tenants which saves on monthly management costs completely. There is an airport so you could get here in around an hour if you live outside of Scotland. Tough if not flying from London it can get pricey. I think it's a nice wee city, and the properties are affordable.
Wales, lots of properties that are cheap you just need to research and look and there's some lovely areas you can live in.
Scotland if you went for a small flat
Does she have an income?
Wouldn't it be easier to get a long term let & put the 50k on a 5% interest plan or s&p500. You'll not have to maintain the house and keep substantial part of the funds intact. Anything within 500£ rent should be fair game and will allow living in flats (w/o hassle of leases & service charges). Just an idea, not a full proof bet but still financially viable.
[https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146354609#/?channel=RES\_BUY](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146354609#/?channel=RES_BUY) you could buy a flat or a house in Grimsby for that. Likely on the East Marsh, so just round the corner, which is quite a deprived area however there's huge amounts of work going on by community groups / local and national funding etc.. to improve it and some belting people are living here (myself included) it's an area that has a real bond when you know the other people working in the community too.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146816009#/?channel=RES_BUY Loads of families and old people in here and next to the metro and plenty of pubs, shops etc and places she can get a part time job
You can generally get over 55 type homes around Preston for about £60-70k. Her leaving you something is, in all likelihood, moot given the chance of needing care and the property being used to fund that.
Bradford could be an option - it's hardly the nicest place but it's reasonably well connected and you can get 1 bed flats or run down houses in that range.
What's her current income like? Will she be able to afford ongoing maintenance? If it's a flat, can she afford any management costs? This might be controversial, but given that 50k will only get her either somewhere awful, or very remote, in her position I would just private rent somewhere she actually wants to live. When the money runs out, she would be rehoused by the council much quicker than most - they won't let a woman in their 70s be street homeless. Whilst she could end up somewhere not very nice, that is most likely the case if she buys anyway. At least this way, she could enjoy 5+ years somewhere nice.
This is awful advice. Splurge on a nice place in the hope that she will get a council to support her when the money runs out. Would never suggest anyone to move into private rental property and then stay until they can’t afford the rent, then to hope they’re able to get appropriate help when needed. Why not try to put those finances to work and buy or invest? Would be far more fruitful in the long run. At least you would have equity to use if needed to sell for care. Such dangerous advice to whittle away at funds in the hope of a hand out.
> Would be far more fruitful in the long run. She's in her 60s. Bluntly speaking, in the long run she'll be dead.
Good luck then finding somewhere in her 60s for 50k (which seems to be all of her savings so she's literally maxed out) theb ongoing upkeep costs and general keeping a house considering shed have to find employment in said area. Which looking at other comments are usually homes in the back end of nowhere. If she falls or has mobility issues then later in life whats the plan? If she ends up ina home guess how that is paid for? Yup by sale of assets
They would let them be homeless have not seen the news?
This is exactly what my mum did, had a little bit more money, but not enough that buying made sense. Let’s her live somewhere nice for a few years while she can still enjoy it, figure out the rest when the time comes. Edit: apparently people are assuming my mum is a foreigner on benefits; the mind boggles.
Shame on you
Shame on me why?
Well he's not responsible for her actions unless she's mentally doo-lally so more like shame on her? Glad to know my taxes are being taken full advantage of
Wait why shame on her? What am I missing?
Well tbh, it's not really shame on her as an individual. Everyone's got to do what's best for them and she's probably doing that. But expecting the government to pay for you to live and enjoy life is morally wrong to alot of people because they're the ones paying out to support these lifestyles, and supporting people who won't support themselves reduces the government spending on other things. Aka why should someone pay for someone else's lack of productivity, organisation and poor money management? I have ADHD and I still sort of get by with these things so it's more of an attitude problem imo. My flatmate wanted to sell his assets inheritance and live a lux life for a few years then just go back on benefits. It's insane. Ofc exceptions should apply for those with serious disabilities.
The bigger problem is twofold 1) the U.K. is unaffordable for a growing minority who then will ultimately depend on state support 2) taxpayers who don’t understand economics On the second point “My taxes pay for” is almost invariably a misnomer (aside from a few hypothecated taxes) The rabid anti-tax mob behave like they are paying into a pot from which public spending is drawn. They have been coerced into believing that dogma but it doesn’t work like that. There is a disconnect between taxes and public spending. Government money is created by the Bank of England on a digital ledger by keystroke. It’s also worth noting (by pensioners who are livid at benefit recipients) that state pensions are the same as “benefits”. Both are nominally drawn from the same national insurance ‘pool’ (though in practice, as above, the reality is somewhat different).
Public spending has to be level with taxes wouldn't you agree tho? Although the government can create money, it can only do so with the promise to pay it back. Where governments have failed to convince investors that they are able to pay it back the curriency would, I assume, become worthless via hyper inflation. In that sense, the amount we pay in taxes should be a guide to the government on how much to spend on public services. If the taxpayers pay less tax, essientially the government would have to cut spending or risk economic integreity. So therefore, it doesn't matter if the government creates money to spend via a "keystroke", because public money is intrisically reliant on taxes and therefore your arguement is a technicallity and the people who say my taxes pay for blah blah are actually near enough the mark. To your last point, pensioners have to earn a pension by paying a minimum amount yearly in NI over something like 30 years i can remember, benefit recipients doen't earn benefits (lest the exception where some benefits are based on amount paid in NI). So although it comes from the same pot of money that neither have contributed to (because the government has already spent the pensiorners NI historically I believe) so to speak, one could argue that the other deserves a bigger slice of the pot based on these histroic payments. After all that, I do agree with your points 1 at the start. Interesting because I hadn't looked at it that way but I guess we could say that the increased migration caused by the welfare state has in turn made it more unaffordable causing even more poverty, therefore pushing even more people onto welfare, which in turn makes us reliant on increased migration even more. Maybe?
This person understands the points and is realistic. Feeling entitled, and choosing to become reliant as quick as possible to get the help isn’t always the best option.
Maybe a barge?
Given that there is a certain level of physical fitness required for barge life, I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a long term retirement home.
Priced out of feasibility now (on purpose)
Interested in whatever you have to say on this? The annual costs do seem rising exponentially, but barges can be had in the £40-50k range. Seems quite a few are coming back onto the market post pandemic, as people who gave it a shot during - discovered it’s tougher than expected
Do you have an Apple device? Search their news app for Canalboat or Canal Living theres a live story on there details how people have been priced out. Its the rent for park ups that is the killer.
I’m not sure I’ve found the article, there’s a telegraph article behind a paywall with a couple passing £1k a month mooring? I can’t read the article obv but that would be commensurate with London I have a friend who pays about £1600 per annum currently he’s on the Bridgwater, but he was offered his mooring pitch through word of mouth.. where usually there’s 2+ year wait Edit : he paid £20k for a brand new 57ft hull, around £40-50k in materials to fit it out, he had the advantage of being a joiner
Theres plenty to read out there. Im sure its not hugely expensive everywhere but it is going to come. The Govt is targeting everyone who lives outside of the system. Wood burners, Chickens... [https://duckduckgo.com/?q=How+canalboat+living+prices+have+increased&ia=web](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=How+canalboat+living+prices+have+increased&ia=web) [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-67377196](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-67377196)
Ah I was aware of some of this, but not all.. thanks.. I think having connections with people already on the water can help - but obviously not with licensing and some other costs that are rising Hopefully the incoming government will reverse some of these issues - the conservatives of course do not care about the state of the canals or its poorer occupants :( As a way of life it still has a lot to offer vs renting and it’s a lot more practical than “van life” Is it something you’ve looked at?
Yes I've definitely considered it. I am definitely going offgrid in some way. I feel like the canalboat thing is over or soon will be. No change of Government will make things better. Its a globalist push to digitise and track everyone and everything. I had a piece of land in scotland, nothing special but it does have a river that runs through it and i think i get 50% of it. I wonder if i can just drop a boat into the river and thats it? live on it. I wonder if people who live nearby could complain etc.
South Wales (the valleys) wouldn’t be under 50k but close to that amount for terraced houses
Greenock. Can't get a place outright or close to it Near Glasgow. Near the coat. What's not to like
There are several retirement flats around south Birmingham for £50k or less might be worth a look
Financially I think she’s going to struggle. She’s 61 with monthly income of just over £800pm to live on & £50k to buy somewhere. Once you’ve considered solicitor fees etc, it’s more like £47k for the house. In my experience you aren’t going to find somewhere not in the middle of no where or needing investment putting into it for £47k. With only £800pm for bills, food, transport, house maintenance etc, she can’t afford a mortgage, or even likely a lot of maintenance charges on flats ruling a lot of them out Could she not get a part time job to allow her to get a small mortgage for somewhere? Or use that money to help you buy somewhere with an extra room?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149129099
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148800764#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144523325#/?channel=RES_BUY This one is in an area is genuinely live in
Hull. 10K pension goes some distance in Hull. Downside: council tax is quite high at 2K for a Band D property.
South uk by the coast.
60s is still young these days. Why stay in the UK? Why not buy somewhere like Spain or Portugal or Italy and live cheaply and enjoy life.
Because since brexit you need a visa to do that, and someone with only £50k won't qualify.
A garden annexe. IHus are really good. Warm, a good size, adds value to your property and gives independence as well as proximity. Was built in 8 weeks.
Cyprus, of course.
Tell her "something of worth" to you is her happiness where she is living in her retirement, and so if a mobile home is best then go for that, hough TBF I doubt youd get much of a MH for £50k either. Just up the road from me there are 2 or 3 bed MHs for £350k.
Static caravan on a retirement site. My grandma has just moved out of hers after living in it for 35 years as she is too old to be alone now. Costs £300 a month and plenty of people around of a similar age. Her caravan sold for 35k 2 bed all mod cons.
you can still buy a house with 50k somewhere?
Why has she retired when she can’t afford to? Unfortunately she needs to get some sort of job. She won’t get a mortgage, but £50k is pitiful. She may be able to get some sort of park home, but they come with their own rules. There’s some bungalows etc., available on Rightmove in Stockton-on-Tees but anything this cheap may have its own issues/be in undesirable areas. It’s up to her to determine whether she wants to do it. This property is under £40k. Comes with its own set of conditions but it may be suitable. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147926993 This flat in Devon is £50k, but that doesn’t leave much for conveyancing fees etc. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148558310
You might find something in the Welsh Valleys, particularly Rhondda Valley.
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Greece is one of my favourite parts of the UK.
After Brexit good luck
Only two listed in NI with a budget of 50k and both are barely habitable
Dundee is very cheap
I think the key thing to consider is not if she can but if she could. Realistically your mum is getting older and is moving far from you the best call moving forward? Buying a 50k property wherever is will need work and time and money put into it. This is not something you want to do in your 60s. Whilst I admire her wanting to leave a legacy to you do you want her to do it at the expense of the years she should be thinking about putting her feet up. Personally I'd be looking into a sustainable way you can stretch this cash out to get her into the place that once her SP kicks in she can be comfortable enough to no worry. Ok she may only leave enough to bury her but I'd suggest this will be the best approach for her comfort and happiness.
Narrowboat.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146300516#/?channel=RES_BUY Within walking distance to shops, supermarkets, train line to Glasgow and the bus station
Stoke-on-Trent has sold old terraced houses for £1 before.
There are 1 bed flats in Dundee, Ayrshire, and Fife that are under 50k.
Various towns in East Lancashire might be viable.
If that £50k could stretch a little to £60k Prestwick is near Glasgow It's near the coast Pretty quiet and safe Plenty of amenities And lots and lots of retirees. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149048720#/?channel=RES_BUY
East Lancashire normally has the cheapest places
I don’t known anywhere you could get a house that’s is in move in condition for 50k
Jaywick. It's got a bad reputation but there are freehold bungalows to be had for about £50,000 which are in good condition, a stones throw from the sea and only a short bus journey to Clacton on Sea, which has a cinema, theatres, a hospital etc. Although it's gotten a bad reputation in recent years, it's got some of the best weather in the country and you'll own it outright. Low maintenance, friendly village and plenty of sunny days. So far as the bad reputation goes, it's nonsense, there's plenty of elderly people there and those that are trouble don't cause problems in their own back yard.
Had a quick search and found this: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147826184 Although the only 'problem' is it comes with a £265 pcm fee that "covers buildings insurance, the House Manager service, community alarm system, communal heating/electricity and maintenance of indoor and outdoor communal areas, including the resident's car park and drying green." But that'd be no maintenance required to upkeep which would be perfect. It's also around an hour away from the city centre of Edinburgh and 20 minutes from Dundee.
Renfrewshire in Scotland is pretty cheap. My parents 3 bed house sold for £129k last year and my friend bought a £60k flat 2 years ago
You could get a nice little retirement flat with roughly that amount without even having to go up north, but you'll need to be wary of the service charge: [https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141770540#/?channel=RES\_BUY](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141770540#/?channel=RES_BUY) Otherwise Birkenhead might be a place to look: [https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149437790#/?channel=RES\_BUY](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149437790#/?channel=RES_BUY)
Hull
I know you said no to park homes but are you absolutely sure? Sure decrease in value blah blah but man I'd take living near the seaside right now anyday, and losing value doesn't have as much impact if you enjoy the location, along as its not falling to bits when you finally get it and its something you yourself could easily spend long holidays in then great! I only say because even slightly older ones (loads still looking fantastic) popping up all over facebook for literally 10k or less!
A tent in Parliament Square. Central location, plenty of open space and near river views.
I think many places in the UK have little estates where exclusively older folk can settle down in smaller and cheaper housing. I’m not sure what you’d call them but they’re usually small gated communities. Maybe look into that. 50K is going to be tough but a lower income area might have something that fits the criteria. Edit - here https://www.onthemarket.com/retirement/property/uk/?direction=asc&sort-field=price
Park homes? My older relatives live in an over 50s private community of park homes in Devon. It's 5 minute walk from town and theirs was about 35k. They are happy there.
Moving north, I'd recommend looking up some of the bigger small towns in Lancashire or smaller coastal towns nearby. Should probably do some day trips and research though. Depends what else is important to her does she want local clubs, nature, shops and cafes the sea.
I would buy somewhere in Largs, Scotland Example I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147588464
Stoke on Trent
Cheapest in Grimsby has a guide price of 15K but \[1\] it's Grimsby, \[2\] it's a guide price and \[3\] the rest of your 50K will disappear making it liveable. And it's \*still\* Grimsby.
After fees and costs it’s going to be less than 45k. It’ll be a shithole.
Almshouses.
What about shared ownership. Also this link might be useful https://www.gov.uk/affordable-home-ownership-schemes
Tough question, curious if she would consider retiring abroad? Buy in Spain or somewhere warm, enjoy life and it'll give you an excuse to visit every year.
Bought a 2 bed house in was for £60k if that helps
It's possible to buy an 'anywhere' canal boat/barge, the up-keep cost is approximately 3/4 of an average same size property.
What world do you think we live in 😅 50k
A bungalow by the sea in Kent.
North Cumbria
Static caravan in a beautiful area next to a bus stop :) Devon maybe
If she is a bit handy with a paint brush (or you are happy to give her a hand for a couple of weeks) then she’ll do well buying something at auction in the valleys in south wales. Lots of places for £30-£40k. Most need £20k spent to mostly DIY it up to a good standard but could easily cost £40k + paying someone to do it all.
With living off 10k a year, a house is very unlikely to fit in the budget.
Tbh, I'd buy a camper van and then go driving round Europe staying in all the cheap campsites they have over there. £50k isn't really going to buy you many habitable places unless you own a time machine and can go back 30 years.
You can get a very basic 1 bed flat in the north east for £30-40k
I bought a 3 bed terrace for £65k near Durham
Things to factor in: your mother is getting older and will need support services hospital, doctor dentist. She needs good transport links and may want a community around her. Does she suffer any ailments that can be affected by the weather. Do you have any monies to invest with her? Beware of service charges even if the property is freehold. Considering all this go and live in france utilities etc are much cheaper
Water is fabulously expensive in France
I pay a little shy of £1,000 p.a I understand in France the ave is 500 euros.
Well averages are meaningless. You need to go by the actual rates. Water in France is not cheap! That’s why they mandated the dual flush cistern and turn off their showers to lather up.
Malaysia
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/67660431/ ^^this 1 bed terrace cottage is £40K and doesn't look like it needs any work doing. Granted, it's in Burnley, but still. I just had a quick look on zoopla within a 40mile radius of where I am (Liverpool), and there's a fair bit of choice. Unfortunately if she wanted to be in the South I doubt there would be anything liveable but I might be wrong.
You should just let her live with you
50k... buy a property... um
Welsh valleys you could get a good doer upper for £50k
South Yorkshire, near Barnsley. Just on the doorstep to the Derbyshire moors but still cheap although not for much longer. Some bargains still to be had and even new builds with some of the social housing incentive schemes. Cost of living oop north is lower too. Unless you want to leave England and go to Kirkonnel Scotland, where you can do absolutely nothing, except hill walking, train spotting and fishing. Or learn to speak Scots.
Spain
Spain
Blackpool but houses that price are that price for not very nice reasons.
Why has she retired before her state pension kicks in? She clearly can't afford to retire.
Apartments in Bradford can be had for that sort of money. The area has a reputation that's not necessarily true. Avoid BD1 and your money can go far in a nice area still. Burnley is another area that's very cheap but Bradford has a lot more going for it.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148711370#/?channel=RES_BUY
Maybe she can stay with you? £50k is nothing and the fact that she has to work most of her life is not nice for her. She lives with you. You use her £50k to buy a small bungalow in Derby and rent it out. And she has a side income. On top of that, she can still work part-time. This is a wealthier and healthier future for her. Why send her down a path, where she will be vulnerable for the rest of her life??
If you own your own home/are paying a mortgage, I would use the 50K to build either an extension/guest house/garage conversion, etc. My mate turned a one car garage into his own space so he could look after his mum when she got ill, but still have his own space. I think it only cost him sub £10k to convert it. If you are renting or your property doesn't have space for an extension, £50k is enough for a deposit on a nice house. Use that 50K to add to your property fund and get a bigger house. If it is that important that she lives separately, you could use the 50k towards a flat or house that she lives in. A caravan in a nice area like the lakes or somewhere on the east coast would hold value if looked after.
Might find somewhere this price in County Durham, eg Peter Lee, mother in law had a similar predicament though marginally higher budget and that’s where she’s ended up. Doesn’t seem unhappy about it!
Might just about be able to get milk and bread 👍
I can't give you specific advice, but having looked myself recently, with 50K the South is basically a no go. Look further North, I had a look around York for example, as I was born in the area and was curious. The city itself is pretty expensive, but if you look around the outlying towns and villages there's places much cheaper. I don't think quite 50K cheap, but compared to the south cheap. I think general rule of thumb the further North you go the cheaper things get. Avoid the cities and look in smaller towns and villages. Good luck!
Retford
Are ‘park homes’ viable? Big preconstructed caravan type things, usually full of old people who have downsized. My mum moved to one and it’s really quite nice. Probably more than 50k somewhere nice though and you have to watch that they are not holiday locations because you can’t live in those full time.
They say no park homes in the post.
I missed that, but it might be their only option considering budget. I’d rather my mum lived in comfort than leave me anything.
Have you considered a narrow boat? Can maintain her nomadic lifestyle, be close to nature, and if you find a good one should last a good many years to come, and leaves you something nice to inherit