I’m being evicted from my house where I’ve lived for 50 years because my mum died – I’m facing homelessness
Neville has little money after years caring for his ailing mum
A MAN is facing homelessness after he was evicted from the house where he has lived for 50 years – because his mum died.
Neville Pass, 53, has lived in the three-bedroom semi in Shrewsbury since the 1970s.
After Neville’s four siblings moved out and his dad died, he was left alone with his mum Doreen.
For the past three years, Neville was Doreen’s full-time carer as she slipped into poor health – before she died in June aged 83.
As he was coming to terms with her loss, Neville was slapped with an eviction notice.
Neville was told he was no longer classed as a carer for his mum and the semi was “too big” for his needs.
He slammed housing bosses for “coldly” booting him from his childhood home when he has little money after years caring for his mum.
Neville said the eviction notice also demanded he emptied the house, so he was forced to take all of his mum’s belongings to the tip.
The council has since told Neville they are unlikely to be able to find him a new home because he is not classed as disabled.
‘NOT APPRECIATED’
Neville said: “My mum was a lovely lady, very kind, and put up with a lot of pain in the last years.
“But we always managed to smile about something and enjoy the local countryside.
“For the last three years I was her full-time carer. But she passed away earlier this year, after years of heart kidney and liver problems.
“Housing Plus have now asked me to leave because it is a three-bedroom house and I am not a carer any more.
“They said I could stay only in ‘special circumstances’ but they don’t consider my situation as a ‘special circumstance’ .
“I have lived here all my life. As a full-time carer you can’t get a full-time job or a mortgage or save much money.
“So to be asked to leave a house after nearly 50 years is uncaring and cold.
“They said I had to empty the house, so I had to take all of my mum’s things and throw them in the tip.
“They have allowed me to stay temporarily in the house but I have to go soon.”
Neville added: “I’m paying full rent – I’m on benefits so can’t even afford the heating.
“I asked the council for help and they said they would try to help me find a house.
“But because I’m not disabled they they said it was unlikely they would be able to find me one.
“I spent more than 10 years with my mum helping her, especially at night.
“She was always breathless because of her heart problem. I helped calm her down and gave her oxygen.
“I was told people like me save the NHS millions – but now I’m coldly being told to leave.”
Neville said: “I guess carers are not appreciated as much in Shrewsbury.
“I hope rules can be put in place to help carers readjust to life instead of being told you’re not a carer anymore and made homeless.”
‘HUGE DEMAND’
Housing Plus’s Les Clarke said: “I am sorry to hear about this situation which I understand is very upsetting for our customer.
“We are supporting and helping him to find a suitable home and he is remaining in the current property whilst this process takes place.”
Clarke added: “We always work to support our customers in these circumstances.
“We do our best to find suitable alternative accommodation for them.
“However, it is important that we use our housing stock as efficiently as we can. There is huge demand for larger properties in this area.
“We have many people on our waiting list including people living in temporary accommodation.”
Section 21 no fault evictions - what are your rights?
Source: Citizens Advice
- A section 21 notice has to give you at least 2 months.
- Some tenants have a right to a longer notice. For example, 3 months’ notice if your rent is due every 3 months.
- Section 21 notices are sometimes called ‘no fault’ notices because your landlord does not need a reason for eviction.
- But your landlord must follow rules to use a section 21. For example, they have to use the right form, protect your deposit and give you a gas safety certificate.
- All councils must help stop people becoming homeless.
- You can ask the council for help as soon as you get a section 21 notice.
- Your landlord must get a possession order if you do not leave when the notice ends.
- They must not change the locks or evict you themselves.
- Your landlord can apply to court as soon as the notice period ends.
- In most cases, your landlord has to apply to court within 6 months of giving you notice.
- If you have a right to a longer notice period, your landlord has 4 months from the end date on the notice.
- The notice stops being valid if your landlord does not apply to court within this time.
- This means they would have to give you a new notice if they still want you to leave.