Disabled woman faces losing family home

A woman with multiple disabilities may be removed from the council house she shared with her mother in Reading after inheriting the tenancy.

Siereece Wall-Weeks, who has lived at the property in Garston Close, Southcote, all her life, has been issued with a Notice of Seeking Possession by Reading Borough Council.

The authority said it was "very mindful" of her needs and would do "everything possible" to support her in finding suitable housing, but the current three-bedroom house was larger than her assessed need.

Her sister Brianna Wall-Weeks, who lives across the road and is Siereece's main carer, said the prospect of moving was deeply distressing.

Their mother, Claire Wall-Weeks, died suddenly last year.

Brianna said her sister was "extremely vulnerable" and relied on the home as "the only place she feels safe and the last connection she has to our mum".

"Despite being told she could remain in the property for a period of time, the council have now issued a Notice of Seeking Possession, stating the home is under-occupied," she said.

The council said it had delayed taking action for as long as possible but that a notice must be issued within 12 months of a tenant's death under housing rules.

The authority also said it had hundreds of families on its housing register waiting for three-bedroom homes.

Under the Housing Act 1985, a council tenancy can usually pass to one qualifying family member when a tenant dies.

But councils can seek possession if a property is considered significantly larger than the successor's housing need, provided suitable alternative accommodation is available.

The council said the notice period lasts 28 days, after which it can apply to the court for possession. A judge would then decide how long the tenant has to leave the property.

A Reading Borough Council spokesperson said: "The council is very mindful of Ms Wall Weeks' individual needs and will do everything possible to support her in securing housing that is suitable for those needs.

"In this case, the tenant has an identified one-bedroom housing need, while the current property has three bedrooms.

"The council must also consider the significant and growing number of families on Reading's housing register who are in urgent need of three-bedroom accommodation, and its duty to make best use of its limited housing stock."