A man is facing losing the home he has lived in all his life just weeks after his mother's death. Shaun Wooldridge grew up in the Nottingham property and lived there with his mother, wife and stepdaughter.
But he says despite being able to prove he paid the rent and had lived there since childhood he has been told he must leave. And he says people have already been to see the house even though his mother is yet to be laid to rest, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
The former miner has been left with the heartache of losing his home because his name was not on the tenancy agreement for the council house. This means he was not a successor, according to Nottingham City Homes (NCH).
But the 61-year-old is hoping for a change of heart saying: "I am going to be homeless. Everything has happened so quickly.
"We have got letters to prove we have been living here. We had to inform the council my mum had passed away but now we just keep getting a letter saying we have got to be out by July 24.
"I have been paying rent. I'm in full-time employment and I've lived here all my life. I'm on the electoral roll here.
"I have not even laid my mum to rest and now I've got people coming up to the house saying they are doing viewings. I have always understood we have been on the tenancy and rent books.
"My stepdaughter had to be brought out of school because she is worried about losing her house. I have already paid around £1,000 in rent."
Mr Wooldridge told how his mother, Jillian, passed away on June 16. Then within the space of just a few weeks he received a letter informing him of his eviction. The former Calverton colliery worker who now works in the asbestos industry says two families have already visited to view the property, which he lives in with his wife, Sununta, and stepdaughter.
According to Citizens Advice a tenant is able to stay in the council home and take over the tenancy depending on things like if you lived with them before they died (it will only count if it was your main home and not a temporary one), if you were living together as a couple, if you're related to the person who died, how long you lived with the person who died, the type of tenancy they had and how long they had it for and what the tenancy agreement says as it might give you more rights to take over the tenancy.
The advice service adds: "If you think you should take over the tenancy, but the council say you can't, it's worth checking to see if they'll review their decision. You might need to ask them how to request a review. Make sure you provide any evidence you have to prove you should take over the tenancy. This could include things like bills to show you've been living in the property for at least a year or that you're currently living there.
"If your local council or housing association won't review or change their decision, they might start possession proceedings - this means you could be evicted. You'll have the opportunity to tell the court why you think you should have succeeded the tenancy and why you think the council is wrong."
Speaking of the decision a Nottingham City Homes spokeswoman said: “We want to offer our condolences to Mr Wooldridge on the loss of his mother. We know it is a difficult time for the family.
“When a tenant unfortunately passes, we have to send a legal document to end their tenancy. As Mr Wooldridge and his family are not on the tenancy agreement, there is no right to succession.
“We are supporting the family and working with them to look at their housing needs and seeing if they are eligible to stay in council housing and they will stay in the property until this is complete. We are regularly in touch and will continue to help them to find a solution.”
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