To sell or not to sell?

Hi, I haven't posted for a while and apologies if I using the wrong area of discussion. My husband is Enduring Power of Attorney for his mother who is in a nursing home since last month. She has dementia and other serious health issues which require 24 hour care.

She got into the nursing home through the Fair Deal Scheme and everything is working out fine, so far. The value of her home was assessed for the scheme and her portion based on this valuation is being paid up front by the family.

The issue of concern is the fact that mother in law's house is now lying empty and is a security risk. Also, I don't think the insurance covers the house if it's unoccupied. Can my husband, using Enduring Power of Attorney sell the house and leave the money in his mother's bank account. If he did would it have implications for her eligibility under the Fair Deal Scheme if the Scheme was reviewed down the line? Also, would it effect her entitlement to a medical card (She is over 70). The value of the house at the moment is about €120K and her only income is the Widow's State contributary pension most of which goes to the nursing home towards the fees.

My husband's family had considered renting the house but don't particularly want to be landlords.

Any comments or advice would be most welcome. Thank you.

As her only income is State Pension I assume she does not have Mega savings lying in the bank or elsewhere. The proceeds of her house would not affect her medical card (as the rules stand at the moment)

Not sure if hubby is entitled to sell her house. Some of the legal eagles here may clarify that for you.

The situation at the moment is 5% of the value of the house goes towards her care and that is capped at 3 years, therefore the max amount payable to HSE would be around 15K -16K over 3 three years.

If the house was sold soon and the proceeds put in the bank the likelyhood is that HSE would continue to get 5% of that for her remaining years.

As the family are paying this 5% at present they are entitled to tax relief (at their highest rate) on the payments

To sell or not to sell

Thanks very much for that information. Much appreciated.