Former carer ‘stressed’ after being told to leave Victory Housing Trust bungalow in Blakeney
A former carer is concerned he will become homeless
Owen Arundel, who has been told by Victory Housing Trust that he can no longer live at his late grandmother’s bungalow at Blakeney. Photo: Karen Bethell
Sophie Wyllie sophie.wyllie@archant.co.uk
Friday, March 7, 2014 9:27 AM
A former carer is concerned he will become homeless following the death of his grandmother whose home he shared.
Owen Arundel, 23, from Hayward Close, Blakeney, was told by Victory Housing Trust to leave because he lived in the two-bedroom property with his relative a few weeks short of the 12- month period in the rules to qualify him to stay.
His grandmother, Janice Arundel, 68, who died in January 20 from cancer, was the tenancy holder and her grandson moved in on February 25 last year to care for her.
North Walsham-based Victory Housing has not given him a deadline to leave and staff are working with Mr Arundel to find alternative housing.
Mr Arundel, who is unemployed and on benefits, said: “Victory Housing are being a bit stupid, for the sake of two or three weeks they are turfing me out of my home. It is not right.
“It is causing me a lot of stress and I am hardly sleeping. I have got nowhere else to go. I cannot go to my mum’s in Melton Constable because there is no room and I cannot stay with friends because they live with their parents.
“I love living in Blakeney. I have been coming here since I was one week old. I get on well with the older folk here.”
He said the caring role gave him self-esteem and satisfaction and he enjoyed getting involved in the Blakeney community, including the village sailing club.
Christine Candlish, head of housing at Victory Housing, said the trust had “sympathy” for Mr Arundel but the rules on succeeding tenancies were “very clear”.
Surviving relatives have to have been living in a property for at least 12 months before the existing tenant’s death.
Currently there was “significant demand” for two-bedroom houses and homes were given to people with the greatest need.
She said: “We do realise that these rules can appear harsh for someone in a situation like Mr Arundel’s, but with such a high demand for affordable homes allocations have to be done in as fair a way as possible.”
What do yo think about Victory’s rules in Mr Arundel’s case? Write to EDPLetters@archant.co.uk.
