I hope you can stay in your rent controlled house. Buying a home is rarely in one's interest when one has a relatively low income. But I guess the asset you inherited affects your eligibility for a means-tested benefit (the housing subsidy.) A financial advisor might be able to help you. An inheritance is a one time, lump sum windfall. There may be a way to shelter it from being considered income and to reduce its status as an asset. You might be advised as to a "spend down" plan that possibly could achieve those things. Unfortunately, expert financial advice can be expensive.