Barbara Woods, a former hairdresser and nursing assistant, worked hard all her life. After her death at age 92 in April 2023, her twin children, Jackie Hughes and Martyn Woods, both 68, inherited her retirement flat in Chester. They faced a three-year struggle to sell it, losing hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The inheritance nightmare
Barbara had moved into the one-bedroom ground-floor apartment at Kingswood, a retirement complex run by social housing landlord Your Housing Group (YHG), in 2019 after breaking her hip. She bought the flat outright for £145,000 using proceeds from her previous bungalow in North Wales.
Shortly after her death, the siblings received a letter from YHG stating the weekly service charge had jumped from £115 to £191 – a 66% increase. Service charges cover maintenance of communal areas, heating, lighting, and other shared costs, and continue even after a resident dies.
Years of financial strain
Jackie, a retired midwife, said: “My heart sank. I thought mum would have hated that. And would she have been able to afford it?”
The high service charges made the flat difficult to sell. The siblings also had to pay council tax, solicitor and estate agent fees, a sinking fund contribution, and their mother’s outstanding care costs. Jackie described the experience as “horrible” and said she “never slept for three years”.
Ombudsman intervention and sale
After multiple complaints to YHG, the group mistakenly sent a letter addressed to Barbara, months after her death. The Housing Ombudsman found YHG at fault for how it handled the complaints and ordered the group to pay £75 compensation.
The flat finally sold on April 21, 2026 – exactly three years after Barbara died – for £110,000. After deducting all costs, the family received £70,000, less than half the original purchase price. Jackie said: “I never breathed a sigh of relief until the contracts had been exchanged and we completed.”
Warning about retirement flats
The twins said they would “never, ever” recommend buying a retirement flat and believe older people with savings should have the option to rent instead. Jackie added: “My parents worked their socks off to try and give us a good life and to have something for their future. But you seem to be penalised if that’s what you do.”
A YHG spokesperson said: “Resale times are influenced by wider market conditions and buyer demand. While the challenges are well recognised across the sector, Your Housing Group remains committed to treating residents and their families fairly.” The group noted that buyers receive detailed information about service charges and resale processes, and must obtain independent legal advice before completing a purchase. “We communicate clearly and provide advice and support to families throughout the resale process,” the spokesperson added.
