A Gateshead pensioner has vowed he is going nowhere after lodging an appeal against an eviction notice for his home of 67 years.
Ken May has been issued an eviction notice by Gateshead Council after he refused workers access to his Wardley address to conduct three-monthly inspections.
But despite facing being kicked out of the Standfield Gardens council house, the 69-year-old has insisted he is staying put.
Read More: Gateshead pensioner faces eviction from council home of 67 years yet again
Ken said: "I am not leaving. I am not surrendering my tenancy, I refuse to do that. I will leave when I want to, or when I die, or like the lady across the street who lived to be 103 when she surrendered her tenancy to go to a home.
"I have got the same rights as her."
Ken and Gateshead Council have been involved in a series of feuds over the condition of the property for several years.
In August last year, Mr May and the council reached an agreement in court where the ex-merchant seaman would vacate his home for eight weeks to allow workers to conduct repair works. The court also stipulated that Mr May must allow the council to conduct an annual safety inspection.
However, the council subsequently wrote to Ken, in April, to inform him of three-monthly inspections. A decision Ken believes is in breach of the August court order.
According to the council's letter: "The reason that inspections are necessary, is because of ongoing concerns about the safety of you, your neighbours and any person visiting the area, based on a history of you interfering with the electrical supply and allowing the condition of your property to deteriorate to a substandard condition and causing a potential hazard to yourself and others."
Ken denies tampering with the electrical supply to his home, having it reconnected to the power grid. Ken also claims the property is in the same state the council left it.
A Gateshead Council spokesman said: "Gateshead Council are aware of Mr May’s appeal in relation to current eviction proceedings, and will be providing no further comment at the present time."
Ken's appeal hearing is scheduled to take place at Gateshead County Court on May 23.
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