Grieving trio face eviction after mum’s death
Reporter: Anna Clarke
Date published: 10 December 2012
THREE brothers have been told they must leave their family home only weeks after the death of their mother.
Grieving Lee (20), Jordan (17) and Callum Bennett (13), were gven the eviction notice by landlord Guinness Northern Counties, who wanted them out of their Ripponden Road home by last Sunday, only eight weeks after the death of mum, Adele.
The family has lived in the Moorside house since 2004 and was assured before Adele’s death they would be allowed to stay. But days after receiving the death certificate they were told to leave.
The boys were offered alternative accommodation, but youngest brother Callum needs to be close to his school, Waterhead Academy.
Their grandparents are now urging Guinness to reconsider and let the boys stay.
Grandad, Alan Threlfall said: “They were offered two houses, in Derker and Coppice, but both are quite far away from us and from Callum’s school.
“If they move out, Callum will have to stay with us — though we’re struggling for space — and the other two will have to live somewhere else. They don’t want to be split up. They need each other now.”
Alan’s daughter Adele died at the end of September after a three-year fight with cancer. Since then the boys have relied on their grandparents, who live a mile away.
“They’re scared and they don’t know what to do,” said Alan. “They miss their mum and all the memories of her are in that house. They don’t want to leave when they are still coming to terms with what has happened. I can’t see why they can’t be shown some compassion.”
After the Chronicle contacted Guinness, the company has agreed to find a workable solution.
“We understand this is a difficult time for these three young men,” said a spokesman. We are keen to talk to them about how we can help them either to remain in the property or move to an alternative that suits their needs.
“Their late mother’s tenancy, like the vast majority of housing association tenancies, doesn’t automatically pass to the next of kin. Whether they can remain in the property indefinitely depends on a number of factors.”
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