I’m thinking of buying my father’s council house. He’s 85 and will qualify for the full discount. If he needed to go into a nursing home, would the council have a claim on the house to pay for his care?
Your father would need to draw up a declaration of trust stating that you were entitled to the property, or the proceeds from its sale, reflecting your part in its purchase. This would protect you in the event that your father had to go into a home, at which point the local authority would probably attempt to put a charge on the property. Alternatively your father could take out a private mortgage, with you as the lender. You should discuss the pros and cons with a solicitor, and also decide who is responsible for insuring and maintaining the property.