My mother and step father have rented my second home, for the last 20years,?

[Sunshaker]

the mortage is not yet paid, and they have both reached retirement age, and my step dad has ill health, i share an house with my girlfriend and we only just make ends meet, and cannot afford to pay both mortgages, i do not want to kick them out but can see no way around this as they cannot claim social security as i am family, or is this still the case as they have been long term tenants and have never claimed anything in there lives?

[Beverly S]

Claiming social security has nothing to do with family. If they have worked and now have reached retirement age they can get social security..

[Haggi]

If they are paying the true market rent then they can apply for housing benefit.

[jabberwocky]

Don't forget to factor in your tax bill. If you haven't been charging them rent up til now then I assume you have not registered for Self Assessment previously? If you charge them rent then you will have to do so. Contact HMRC and they will send you out a pack.

You will have a tax bill on the profit - rent less mortgage interest less any other allowable expenses (eg water rates or council tax if you pay them yourself etc).

You just need to take this into consideration when setting the level of rent you charge.

As another poster has mentioned, housing benefit can be claimed when renting from a family member but it will be looked at closely to ensure that it is above board. So, you cannot charge a below market rent and need to have a proper tenancy agreement in place etc.