When a family member needs residential care, the financial pressure can feel overwhelming. If selling the property is the right option for your situation, Howsold's competitive bidding process can help you achieve a fair price — with zero seller fees and a target 56-day completion. Every pound matters when it's funding someone's care. Always seek independent financial advice about your specific care funding situation.
Indicative estimate only · No obligation · Not financial or legal advice
Our AI-powered tool analyses live sold prices and local market data to give you an indicative estimate.
Indicative estimate only. Based on comparable sold prices and AI analysis — AI can make mistakes. Not a formal valuation or professional appraisal.
In England, if a person's total assets — including property — exceed £23,250, they are generally expected to fund their own residential care. With residential care fees averaging £800–£1,000 per week and nursing care often exceeding £1,200–£1,600 per week, the costs accumulate quickly. For many families, selling the property is the most practical way to fund care — but how you sell determines how much actually reaches the care account.
There is no lifetime cap on care home costs in England as of 2026. The planned reforms that would have introduced an £86,000 cap were not implemented. This means care fees can continue for as long as care is needed, making the sale price of the property — and the fees you pay to sell it — directly material to how long the funds last.
It's also important to know that selling may not be your only option. Deferred Payment Agreements, property disregards (for example, where a spouse or qualifying relative still lives in the property), and the 12-week property disregard period may apply to your situation. We strongly recommend seeking independent financial advice before making any decisions. This page is not financial, legal, or tax advice.
Selling a family home to fund care is never easy. If you'd like to understand what the property may be worth and how the process works, we're happy to explain — no pressure, no obligation.
Always seek independent financial advice about care funding. Howsold does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice.
Call Us: 0151 203 8283¹ ~26% of UK private treaty sales fell through in 2025 (Quick Move Now). Auction reservation terms require buyers to commit financially before proceeding. † Based on Howsold sales to date. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Not a quick-buy company offering a discounted price. Not a traditional agent who may take months. A model designed for speed, fair pricing, and certainty.
You pay Howsold nothing. No listing fee, no commission, no hidden costs. On a £250,000 property, that's potentially £4,500+ more than a traditional agent sale — money that goes directly toward funding care.
Multiple buyers bid against each other for the property. The price is driven by genuine market competition, not by a single company making a low offer. This can help maximise the funds available for care — though individual results vary.
The faster the sale completes, the fewer weeks of care fees, property running costs, and uncertainty your family absorbs. We target completion within 56 days of a buyer reserving. Individual timelines may vary.
The buyer pays a non-refundable reservation fee (typically 4.5% inc VAT, minimum £6,600). This financial commitment is designed to reduce the risk of the sale collapsing — avoiding the cost of restarting while care fees continue.
If the property has been empty for some time and needs work, that's not a barrier. Our buyer network includes investors who actively seek properties in all conditions. No need to spend money on repairs before selling.
This is a difficult situation and you deserve a real conversation. Every Howsold seller deals with a named person based in our Liverpool office. We'll explain everything plainly and answer every question.
Call us on 0151 203 8283 or WhatsApp us. We'll discuss the property, its condition, and how quickly you need to move. We'll provide an honest indicative estimate and explain how the auction process works. No obligation, no pressure.
Your property is listed and we contact our pre-qualified buyer network the same day. The fixed auction date creates genuine urgency. Over 70% of our properties attract interest before auction day. We work the sale from day one.
Whether agreed prior to auction or on the day, the buyer signs reservation terms and pays a non-refundable reservation fee. We target exchange and completion within 56 days. Zero Howsold seller fees. Individual timelines may vary.
Illustrative figures based on stated assumptions — see footnote. Not financial advice. Always seek independent advice about care funding.
| Traditional Estate Agent | Quick-Buy Company | HOWSOLD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller fees | £3,750–£6,000 (1.5–2% + VAT) | Often £0 (but reduced price) | £0 |
| Typical sale price | Market value (if it sells) | ~£200,000–£212,500 (15–20% below) | Competitive bidding — buyers compete |
| Buyer committed? | No — can walk any time | Yes | Yes — reservation fee paid |
| Timeline to completion | 20+ weeks average | 4–8 weeks | Target 56 days |
| Fall-through risk | ~26% nationally | Very low | Reduced by reservation fee |
| Care fees during sale period | ~£20,000+ (20+ weeks) | ~£4,000–£8,000 | ~£8,000 (8 weeks target) |
| Illustrative amount available for care¹ | ~£220,000 after fees & delay costs | ~£196,000 | Up to ~£242,000 |
Sellers remain responsible for their own legal/conveyancing costs (typically £1,000–£2,500). Howsold fees are £0. Individual results vary. Not financial advice.
¹ Illustrative only. Based on a £250,000 property. Agent fee at 1.5% + VAT. Quick-buy assumed at 15–20% below market. Care fees assumed at £1,000/week. Property running costs not included. Individual results will vary. This is not financial advice.
The Modern Method of Auction (MMA) is a conditional online property auction used across the UK. Unlike traditional auctions with 28-day completion windows, MMA allows buyers to use mortgage finance — meaning a wider, more competitive buyer pool.
For families selling to fund care, the combination of competitive pricing, a committed buyer, and a defined timeline addresses the three things that matter most: achieving the best possible price, certainty that the sale will complete, and speed that limits the funding gap while care fees continue.
Competitive bidding may achieve a stronger price Multiple buyers competing for the property can help drive the price upward, rather than a single company making a discounted offer. More sale proceeds means more weeks and months of care funded.
Reservation fee keeps the buyer committed The buyer pays 4.5% inc VAT (minimum £6,600) upfront. This financial commitment is designed to reduce fall-through risk — avoiding the cost of restarting while care fees accumulate.
Fixed auction date provides a clear timeline Useful for families coordinating with solicitors, the local authority, or other executors. Everyone knows when the sale is expected to complete.
Properties in any condition accepted If the property has been empty, needs maintenance, or isn't presentable for traditional viewings, our buyer network includes investors who actively seek properties in all conditions.
Not necessarily. Whether your property is included in the local authority's financial assessment depends on your circumstances — for example, it may be disregarded if a spouse, civil partner, relative aged 60 or over, or dependent child still lives there. Even where the property is included, alternatives such as a Deferred Payment Agreement may be available. We strongly recommend seeking independent financial advice to understand all your options before making any decisions.
As of 2026, the upper capital limit in England is £23,250. If your total assets (which may include property) exceed this amount, you are generally expected to fund your own care. Between £14,250 and £23,250, you may receive some local authority support. Below £14,250, capital is disregarded. These thresholds may change — always check current figures with your local authority or an independent financial adviser.
A Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) is an arrangement with your local authority where the council pays your care fees and places a legal charge on your property. The debt, plus interest and administrative fees, is repaid when the property is eventually sold — either during the person's lifetime or after death. Not everyone is eligible, and terms vary by council. We recommend seeking independent advice to understand whether a DPA is suitable for your situation.
We target exchange and completion within 56 days from a buyer reserving the property. Over 70% of our properties attract a buyer before auction day through our pre-qualified buyer network. Individual timelines can vary depending on property type, location, and legal factors.
Howsold is not a quick-buy company that offers a discounted price. Our competitive bidding process brings multiple buyers together, which can help drive the price toward genuine market value. Combined with zero Howsold seller fees, your net proceeds may be higher than with a traditional estate agent — though individual results will vary and are not guaranteed.
Zero Howsold fees. The buyer pays the reservation fee, not you. Sellers remain responsible for their own legal and conveyancing costs, typically £1,000–£2,500. Everything is confirmed in writing before you sign anything.
In many cases, yes — though jointly owned or trust-held properties may involve additional legal considerations. We would recommend seeking independent legal advice about your specific ownership structure before proceeding. Howsold does not provide legal advice.
Yes. We are members of the Property Redress Scheme. Finance introductions via Melius (FCA-authorised) — a referral fee will apply if a referral is made, and will be disclosed to you. Howsold is a trading name of Latomus Capital Limited (Company No. 15497250), registered in England & Wales.
Enter the postcode for an indicative estimate. No obligation. If you'd prefer to talk, call us on 0151 203 8283.
Our AI-powered tool analyses live sold prices and local market data to give you an indicative estimate.
Indicative estimate only. Based on comparable sold prices and AI analysis — AI can make mistakes. Not a formal valuation or professional appraisal.