help moving elderly mum in law from one council property to be nearer us different council

You could try your local council Elderly care social services department , I am sure they would put you on the right track.

That sounds very stressful for your husband and yourself cookiemonster66, I hope you manage to get your mother in law into more suitable accommodation. The first thing I would do is check with the Housing Department of your own council whether they do accept people onto the housing waiting list who currently live in other areas, as not all councils do. If yours does, they will be able to tell you the approximate waiting time for the category of housing your MiL needs. I would not contact her local council until she is offered something suitable, as they may try to move her sooner in their own area, as three bedroom council houses in rural areas are very desirable.

It used to be ok for someone elderly living in a care home in one area to move closer to family, in another area/council.
Suggest you phone her local council to discuss , or phone your own council and ask them. Either housing or Social services elderly care team.
If your mil in law is showing signs of dementia and from what you describe it’s probable she is, you may want to see what alternatives there are which provide an element of care.

I think you will need to get a housing application form from your council’s housing dept. This will enable you to explain why you need to move your MIL nearer to you. I did this for my late sister who lived in a different council area and we were very lucky to get her a little bungalow in quite a short time. Sadly, though she died shortly after moving. However, reading your description of your MIL, perhaps you should be considering whether she should still be living independently.

I meant to say I am sorry about your mum,

It can be tricky, here in Hampshire you have to ‘bid’ for local authority housing swaps, it seems there’s no standard procedure across authorities.
I too would contact Adult Social Services in your local authority, your local Age UK may also help, good luck.

thanks everyone for you kind words of advice xxx @Jaxjacky @silverlining48 @Sadgrandma @Casdon @62Granny

If she refuses to move I'm not sure you would be able to have her moved without permission.

When my mother in law was left on her own when her partner died she needed to be nearer her family. She approached our local council and they referred her to a housing association who gave her a suitable one bedroomed flat. They prioritised her because of her age, illnesses and that she had existing family in the local area who would be able to give her more care.
Every council has their own criteria but sincerely hope you can get something suitable for her ASAP.

I’m going back many years and can’t remember much about it but when we tried to move my FIL into a council property near to us we hit a wall but my SIL got the ball rolling again by getting his GP involved. Sadly he died before we could move him here anyway.

If you google council house exchange there is lots of information that may help you.

Google elderly housing advice - read up, and if you have any local advice centre such as AgeUK get in contact with them. Unless things get very bad, you really will need to have her active consent. What she will agree to and what you and your husband would like may be different. There is a heavy cost in mental and physical health moving an elderly and ill person.

If you move to another area you have to live there for six months before your name can go on the council list and then you either have to bid for property or wait and climb the list as she is old now neither would be good.

Get a Power of Attorney with help from Citizens Advice so you can manage her affairs. THEN go to AgeUk who will point you in the right direction.
You could go to either or both organisations, sit down and just ask them.to read this thread. Ball will roll.

I should have said
A get power of attorney
B get diagnosis of dementia
C go for help
If you don't settle POA first all.her affairs are done through social.services and they wont do as good a job as you would to put it mildly.
Mil can't grant you poa if she has been diagnosed with dementia. All she has to do is sign something.

Lots of great advice here. You cannot do it alone.

I would add that not many councils run their own "council" houses these days, even though they have this choice based letting system where you have to bid for a home. Here we have housing associations who have homes across several council boundaries, and if yours is the case, you may find it quite easy to move her.

Have you thought though, that she may have a right to buy. If you get a quote, you may encourage them to help you swap.
You do not mention your circs. could you move in with her?

I agree with Flutterby. Do try and get POA before your MIL receives a diognis of dementia. If she is diagnosed POA will be out of the the question.
You are in a dilemma and I recognise how stressful this must be for you and your DH. I wish you good luck and I am sorry you are also coping with the loss of your Mum .

Have a look at these links:

www.homeswapper.co.uk/
www.houseexchange.org.uk/

These are mutual exchange websites that help council and housing association tenants to swap homes either locally or nationwide.

Good

Is she going to be able to live independently even if she was nearer?
She is missing appointments and struggling with everything it seems to me...

thanks so much everybody for all your wonderful advice, good news is that she seems more open to moving at last! I can understand how scary that must be she is in her mid 80's and has lived in the same village all her life

I work in social housing. First thing is to go to YOUR council and ask if she would be eligible for sheltered housing in your area. Some councils will allow it if is for local support but they are all different. Secondly check Right Move, lots of social housing sheltered flats on there as they are generally more difficult to let.
You could try a mutual exchange but that will only work if she goes for a general needs one bed, not sheltered. Try www.homeswapper.co.uk
Finally, and most difficult she will not be accepted in to a sheltered block if she cannot live independently ( though use of carers is permitted) so you will need to consider that carefully.
Best of luck

I would get a possible dementia for her from her GP . Do you have power of attorney? I would speak to the housing officer at your council first and foremost . I’m not saying she would get a three bedroom house but most areas have over 55s housing . Where I am there are one bedroom pensioners bungalows in quiet areas and they are also building some over 55s apartments. Your council should be able to tell you if they have suitable housing .
If there is nothing suitable then you may have the option for her to do a property exchange with someone in your area but wanting to move to your mums area .
Good luck .