A FAMILY fear they’ll be homeless and “living in a box” at Christmas after being evicted by their landlord.
Dad-of-three Simon Collis, a former civil servant, said he is “worth more dead than alive” after receiving a Section 21 eviction notice.
YouTube/Colchester City CouncilSimon Collis speaking to councillors last week, where he pleaded for help[/caption]
The notice means a landlord can ask you to move out without needing a valid reason if you’re outside of a rental contract.
He has repeatedly pleaded with Colchester City Council to solve the issue, telling councillors last week he has never been out of work or failed to pay his rent, EssexLive reports.
Simon said: “It looks like by Christmas my family and I will perhaps be living in a box.
“I would rather die than see this happen. If my family were to receive my civil service pension, they would have a home and be catered for. I am worth more dead than I am alive.
“Twenty-three years of loyal service to the Crown, and what for? To be spat on and treated like scum. It’s not fair and it’s not right.”
He added that he was a “desperate person in desperate times” and there did not seem to be “a way out”.
Councillors also heard an officer had lost documents supplied by the family as part of their application for temporary accommodation – a claim vigorously denied.
Simon also revealed his eldest son has been diagnosed with special needs, while he has autism and a history of mental health issues.
His family are understood to be one of 28 at risk of homelessness in the area amid a strain on social housing provision.
Council leader David King insisted the local authority has “housing at its heart” and it would do “everything it can” to help the family.
But a day before Simon’s poignant comments, Tory councillor Sara Naylor highlighted the governance of families declaring themselves homeless as “a point of concern”.
Councillors were told complaints to the local government and social care ombudsman had been upheld.
Cllr Naylor said residents found the ombudsman service “emotionally tiring” and people were having their “basic needs denied”.
A spokesman for Colchester Borough Homes said: “Mr Collis attended an interview to discuss his family’s housing situation on September 11, prior to the court hearing on October 8, as their current tenancy was being ended through a ‘no fault’ eviction process.
“At the interview, the court and homelessness process was fully explained, and information was provided. Some further information was requested, which is necessary to fulfil a homelessness assessment.
“It was explained and recorded that if a full housing duty is accepted, following an initial 56-day period where efforts are made to prevent the family from becoming homeless, then a ‘high priority banding (Band B) will be awarded.”
The statement added: “All of the information submitted at the interview remains available. We appreciate that Mr Collis has a concern that the member of staff who attended the interview has now left our organisation, and that information has been lost or is missing.
“This is not the case. All information remains available on file. We have asked for some additional information to help assess affordable private rental options to assist and prevent Mr Collis and his family from becoming homeless.
“The possession order which is in place expires on 20 November. If Mr and Mrs Collis have not been able to secure an alternate home by that time, we will secure temporary accommodation for them and their family.
“Following our initial assessment, we advised Mr and Mrs Collis and provided them with a personal housing plan to continue to bid on homes available weekly on HomeChoice and to contact landlords and letting agents for available three-bedroom homes with rent levels up to £1,100 per calendar month.”
AlamyThe family fear they may be homeless for Christmas[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
