Lady in my fathers bungalow.

[KPritchard]

Myself and my wife purchased a 2 bedroom bungalow in 1998 for my mother and father to live in rent free. The land certificate is in myself and my wifes name.
Sadly my mother passed away in January 2010 and my father started dating a lady 6 months ago. We have told her the situation regarding ownership of the bungalow.
She has spent some nights there and has started refering to the bungalow as belonging to herself and Dad.
I am just wandering if there is any possibility of her getting any right of occupation to stay there if Dad passes away before her.
Myself and my wife are now 57. Dad is 83 and is in good health for his age and the lady is 80.
We do not want the bungalow back while Dad is living in it but we do not want his lady friend living in it for possibly another 20 years if Dad is no longer around.
Of course if Dad is fit to live in it for another 20 years we will not throw him out.

K Pritchard

[hc4361]

I really do think you are worrying a little too much.
The lady friend has no more right than any friend or relative he has stopping over a few nights a week.

It may change if she actually leaves her own home and moves in, but that can quite easily be dealt with by creating a tenancy agreement, even if it is a peppercorn rent. Even without the rent it is highly unlikely she would acquire any rights. The bungalow is not your dad's to leave in a will, nor does he have the sort of tenancy that can be 'inherited'.

Is there a possibility of her selling her own home, or giving up her tenancy? You might remind your dad of his responsibility to inform the council if his entitlement to the sole occupancy council tax rebate is affected.