Bankruptcy fear after Littlehampton housing row

Stephanie Ellington allowed her brother to rent her house in Clun Road, Littlehampton, for six months while the housing market recovered enough for her to sell it.

But at the end of the term, he was told by Arun District Council that he would not be rehoused by them unless a court order was obtained to evict him.

Stephanie now faces losing the sale on the house she has owned for 16 years, while she and her brother fight each other through the courts.

"I rented it for six months, to give the market time to sort itself out," she said.

"My brother is signing on, and we had a formal tenancy agreement so he could get housing benefit.

"The lease ran out on July 31, and I had a buyer, and a completion date of August 28, but my brother was advised by the council not to leave until I had a court order to evict him."

She added that the deal was now teetering on the edge, and she could lose everything.

"If it all falls flat, I lose the house, and it has cost me tens of thousands of pounds.

"The fact that the tenant is my brother makes this 10 times worse."

A spokesman for Arun's housing options team said that advice given depended on individual circumstances.

"Where appropriate, we would advise tenants on their legal rights, including the due process the landlord would need to follow in order to gain vacant possession.

"Our priority is always to provide people with their personal housing options, including any assistance available to them via the council, the private sector and any other sources."

Stephanie, who is currently staying with her sister in Essex waiting for the money from the sale, said she understood her brother was in a difficult position.

"The council are saying that they will not house him without a court order, and he needs somewhere to live.

"I understand that the council has thousands of people to house, and not enough properties, but I am in a situation now where I have never been more broke in my life, and could lose everything."

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