Disabled Brothers Evicted From Council House Days After Mum, 90, Goes Into Care
Two disabled brothers face being kicked out of their home of 34 years in a move branded “inhumane” by their family.
Richard and Frank Smith are set to be turfed out of their three-bedroom house in Putney Walk, Chelmsley Wood, in a tenancy dispute.
Solihull Council confirmed they would have to go, despite the property having been adapted to help wheelchair-bound Richard.
The authority is now looking for a two-bedroom home it said would be “more suitable for their needs”.
Richard, 54, has cerebral palsy and 56-year-old Frank, his full-time carer, suffers from acute anxiety.
But their frail mum Catherine, 90, is the registered tenant and she has just moved into a care home, leaving the brothers with no legal right to stay.
Richard said: “I have lived here for 34 years with my mother and late father.
“Eight days after she moved out, two officers told us we would have to go.
“We have lodger’s rights but, if that is all we are, why have they adapted the house for my wheelchair?
“We have a ramp outside, hand rails and a walk-in shower. They would need to do that to a new house.”
Richard said the brothers had been told they were under-occupying the property – but insisted they were happy to pay the ‘bedroom tax’ to cover the unused third room.
Their brother Steve said: “They have just had to deal with mum moving out and now this. This decision is unreasonable and inhumane.”
Coun David Jamieson (Lab, Kingshurst and Fordbridge), a Solihull cabinet member, is fighting their case.
He said: “It is a sad and difficult case because both the brothers have special needs and have lived there a long time.
“There is so little flexibility and so few houses available for families.”
Coun Jamieson stressed the brothers were not being evicted and would not be moved until a suitable alternative two-bedroom property was found.
He said he had requested an independent medical assessment, which may conclude a move would be detrimental to their health.
A Solihull Council spokeswoman said: “We are awaiting confirmation that Mrs Smith has gone into residential care permanently.
“Her sons have no legal rights to the tenancy as it is in their mum’s name. We are looking for alternative two bedroom accommodation more suitable for their needs.
“An independent medical officer will also review their situation.”
Same Difference 
Talk about heartless. This is a cold cold world we live in today. 😦
LikeLike
This is a true sign of the evil that is the Tory Party! Two disabled guys targeted as their frail mother goes into a care home, the tories they are all evil and barbaric what is wrong with these evil fascists? did they have a disadvantaged childhood?, unlikely although I don’t know for sure, did they have incredible struggles to get where they are? Rather unlikely, Although again I do not know. What I do know there is no reason to cause incredible suffering to the vulnerable and needy ! So because there is no decent reason to cause suffering, they the tories must be doing it because they are either ill or just plain evil, so whatever the reason they should be relieved of their duties. I did’nt realise we were living under a dictatorship who smashed everyone who did not fit their rich image, funny that if you are poor you appear to be nothing in their eyes! Why should they get away with hurting the vulnerable, and reward the bankers with more money incentives to stay corrupt along with rich companies who pay little or no tax , how is that right and then goad people into hating immigrants by blaming them for problems with our economy ! WHY ARE THE TORIES GETTING AWAY HATE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY? THE WHOLE WORLD CAN SEE !
LikeLike
Carl Walker, you have eloquently put the thoughts i share with you. They ignore the fact this is their long standing family home not just a f*^+~ing statistic. Such laws would not be tolerated by the wealthy if it meant they were being ousted from their homes. I am absoloutely sick of this political game that demonises the poor or most vulnerable, setting people up to hate one another so this goverment can continue tearing us all down.
LikeLike
Early last year I watched a TV programme about new architecture and one of the properties in the programme had 7 in door swimming baths. One themed in gold, another in silver, the next in marble, and so on. For some reason our print media moguls and their Con-Dem political arm of government has managed to convince enough of us that to have a spare bedroom in a council house/flat or Housing Association property provides its tenants with such luxury that a fine of around £15.00 per week must be paid. Hopefully, at some point in the near future the majority of the electorate will wake up to the fact that new standards of ‘luxury’ are being defined by those with power and extreme (and for the most part inherited) wealth for them, and us.
LikeLike
We would have plenty of housing – plenty more money for public services and the NHS if we hadn’t let the scrounging immigrants in. They have lived and cared for that property for 34 years. The Council must want it for some asylum seekers or the like – they of course get preference to those of us born here.
LikeLike
To the Tory party hope you all rot in hell for your hatred facist scumbuddie
LikeLike