My mother left her house to me and my sister, stipulating in her will that it must not be sold as long as my sister was still abroad. My sister has now gone to live in Australia, but refuses to sell the house. Where do I stand as sole executor and also as a beneficiary? It doesn’t seem right that she can hold us to ransom.
Badly drawn wills cause endless problems. You’re in a difficult situation unless you can get your sister to change her mind. It costs quite a bit to keep a house up together: I suggest you send your sister as many bills as possible for her to pay her share, and if she doesn’t, tell her that the money will be coming out of any proceeds she will receive from the eventual sale of the house.