Vasthu Sasthra-In 21st Century
It is good if the house faces one among the 'mahadikku'- ie east, west, north or south. In your case, the house can face east or south. Leave more space on the eastern and northern sides when compared to the other two sides. The best location for the kitchen is south-east, ie `agnikon'. If that is not possible, you can opt for north-east or north-west sides. Never design the kitchen on the south-west side.
While doing landscaping, do not raise the north-east side. It should be on a lower level when compared to other sides. Instead, you can opt to raise the south-west side. The best position for the well is north-east side in Meenam raashi.
Old houses shouldn't be left closed. That would build up negative energy. Also, invisible forces of nature would also be there in such houses. It is wrong not to light at least a traditional lamp in the temple. The problems with the temple would affect the family members as well. If you can't light the lamp daily, at least hold poojas on the day you come home. A Full Moon day would be ideal. Try to give the house on rent or arrange somebody else to stay there.
Your house is 35 years old and might have been built as per `arooda' measurements. Pull down the ceiling as per the rules. Consult a Vaastu expert and do the concreting only after re-arranging the measurements inside and outside the house as per his instructions.
A well in the `agnikon' position is bad for women in that family. It also causes troubles in business ventures. There will be frequent problems in the houses and difference of opinion among the family members. But, since you say that there is no other source for taking water, make a wall dividing the house and the well. That is the only way out of this.
On a huge plot at Ulloor stands this beautiful house. It is just two years old. I was approached by the owner when he found that his wife and children were frequently falling ill. I found that this house had no compound wall on the northern and western sides because there was some dispute over the property. The worse thing was these two sides looked quite shabby, with water-logging and wild vegetation. Also, the entrance door was made close to the south-east corner, which is wrong as per Vaastu. There was no pooja room also. I suggested the alterations. Most important thing was constructing the compound wall. It is essential to have a wall around the house because that gives a `Vaastu-mandalam' for a house. Otherwise, negative energy will come from outside.
On 20 cents of land stands this beautiful house in Kochi. It is just three years old. What is special is that, it is exactly round in shape. The owner, a businessman, got inspired by such a house in Bangalore, and wanted the architect to design his house in the same way. The structure is such that the car porch comes in the centre, the rooms come around the house and the central portion is open with unique landscaping. But, unfortunately living in the house has been not at all beautiful for him. I was contacted after he went through some serious problems in his personal as well as business life. I found that it had to do a lot with the very fact that the circumference of the house was wrong. There were serious defects with the measurements. The four directions / corners were not clearly defined. The rooms were shapeless. I suggested whatever alterations that were possible. Open space was needed on the eastern side. The shape of the main bedroom needed change, in addition to some variations in the 'kannimoola' and other portions of the house.