Hundreds of people are campaigning to overturn the decision to evict a tenant of a townhouse from her home for life, months after her mother’s death.
Some 700 people have signed a petition calling on the Caerphilly Council to allow Andrea Long to keep her home in Greenway, Abertysswg, following the sudden death of her mother Ruth in January. The council told the 53-year-old woman that she had to leave the three-bedroom house because the rules only allow for one inheritance of rent.
The rent had already been transferred to Ruth when Andrea Kenneth’s father died in 2010. Wales law is expected to be amended on 15 July to allow for two legacies, but Andrea was told she had to hand over her keys to July 4.
The council says it must balance her wishes with “the significant need and demand for social housing”.
Andrea’s niece, Katrina, begs the council to show “compassion.”
She said: “All Andrea wants is advice to show a little compassion and allow her to inherit the rent, as she would have been allowed if her mother had died later in the year.
“When Andrea’s father died, her mother’s name was not in the original lease, although they lived there together as husband and wife throughout their married life.
“That’s why her mother had to rent her name. In the eyes of the council, this was seen as a continuity of rent.
Andrea added: “I dedicated my life to taking care of both my mother and my father, removing the burden of power that I might have had to take care of if I hadn’t.
“I have not had the opportunity to have a family of my own or to have a social life. I have never been able to go out with friends or meet people because I have been a caregiver in my home for most of my life.
“I don’t sleep out of grief for my mother, but with that on top it’s like mental cruelty. It’s exhausting.”
The 53-year-old was born in the council building and has never lived elsewhere. Her mother died suddenly in January from a perforated gut, and she feels like the only thing she has left is the house. Andrea added: “My mother’s rapid transition left me in a state of shock and I feel that the only thing left for me is my home.
“If I had to move elsewhere, I would lose the only friends I have in the neighborhood around me.
“I’m not sure how I could have done it if that was the case. The thought of emptying the house and moving my late mother’s belongings created nightmares for me after such a short time.” A Caerphilly council spokesman said: “While we are sympathetic to Ms Long’s situation, under the 1985 Housing Act, there is only one right of inheritance for secure rent.
“Since the late Mrs. Long inherited the rent after the death of her late husband, she is no longer entitled to inherit.
“If the late Mr and Mrs Long were joint tenants, an inheritance would still have taken place after Mr Long’s death.” the property in which they live, and the council, as a landlord, must balance the wishes of the occupier with our obligations to meet the significant need and demand for social housing by residents throughout the county.
“These situations are dealt with on a case-by-case basis through management’s discretion. “As explained in the letter to Ms Long, there is a process through which she can appeal the decision of the Steering Committee at its discretion.
“This offers an opportunity to request a review of the decision and to provide any additional information it deems appropriate, together with the opportunity to attend the hearing in person.
“So far we have not received a request for a review of this decision from Ms Long.
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