Points to ponder before giving a home to a relative

between independence and the provision of care.

NO COUNCIL TAX

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) says an annex occupied by an elderly or disabled family member has a 100% council tax discount.

SHARED BILLS

Depending on how it’s built and your preferences, bills may be shared between the family home and the granny flat, potentially saving money (assuming granny or grand-dad doesn’t have the heating on all the time).

PLAN FOR FUTURE NEEDS

Think carefully not just about the elderly person’s needs now, but what they may be in the future. If your granny annex is two storeys, do the bedroom and toilet need to be downstairs in case mobility becomes an issue in later years?

CHOOSE BUILDERS CAREFULLY

A new-build can also be very stressful, so choose your builders carefully. The NFB’s Find a Builder

helps people contact reputable builders who’ve been strictly vetted and have undergone a range of reference checks.

DO IT SOONER NOT LATER

Moving can be very stressful for anyone, but especially for an older person. A decision to build a granny flat needs to be made sooner rather than later ie. before an elderly relative is in desperate need of an accommodation change, and while they’re still reasonably mobile if possible.

Look on it as an investment for the future.

GET LEGAL ADVICE

It’s important to discuss, and get legal advice if necessary, what happens if either the younger family or the older relative wants to sell up and move to a different property but the others don’t want to sell.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

Honest and detailed discussions are We would all

want to provided care for an elderly relative – but

there are many things to

consider before taking such a big step crucial, both with the builder before construction about the budget, timescale and exactly what you and the elderly relative want, and with your relative about how bills will be paid (if they’re shared), who’s responsible for the garden if it’s shared, whether you eat together, whether you knock before entering each other’s homes, etc.

BE PREPARED FOR RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWNS

It may also be worth seeing a solicitor to discuss what happens if there’s a relationship breakdown, as one of the family homeowners may demand their share of the property in divorce proceedings. What happens to the granny flat occupant then?