A disabled mother and her terminally ill son are living on borrowed time as they await eviction from their adapted Wokingham home, with a court process now looming.
Lynne Antink, 71, and her son Colin, 34 were due to leave their home last Saturday, July 18.
The family has lived in their chalet bungalow on Denton Road since 2009, but their landlord has now confirmed it will not extend their notice and will seek possession through the courts.
Their home is being sold to pay for a new homes in West London – called the first new co-operative housing development in a generation – but the project has left the disabled mother and son facing separation and homelessness.
For the moment, the pair are still in the home that was adapted for their needs by the taxpayer and where they have lived in for 17 years after receiving support from the team of Clive Jones MP, but their court date could come at any moment.
Lynne said, last week: “Five more days left before kick out is official… this silence is deafening. We are both incredibly scared now.”
They were served a Section 21 notice on April 24, days before the government banned so-called “no-fault” evictions. Both are registered blind, hearing impaired and have significant mobility issues, with the property adapted to meet their needs.
Colin, who has terminal Addison’s disease and kidney failure, is particularly vulnerable. Stress can trigger life-threatening adrenal crises requiring immediate treatment.
In a final appeal to their landlord, Lynne wrote: “I am begging you… please let us stay here. Surely you have other properties to sell?”
Co-op Homes, managing agent for Middlesex Housing Co-op (MHC), said the decision was necessary to fund new housing.
Managing director Steven Wild said: “We know any such change in housing can cause uncertainty, and the decision… has not been taken lightly. As a small not-for-profit provider… MHC have to carefully consider the best use of all their properties.”
He said the sale of the property would fund “the first new co-operative housing developments in West London in a generation”.
Lynne replied: “They must have other properties… does anyone there have a heart?”
Mr Wild said the organisation had remained in contact and delayed legal action to allow time for rehousing.
He said: “We have been in regular phone, email and in-person contact… and provided details of a named caseworker at Wokingham Borough Council.”
But Lynne replied: “No one has bothered to respond to my letters, my emails or anything from Co-op homes.
“They’ve just admitted they want us out to start a wonderful new project in London. We’re just in the way at the moment.
“Following my statement that Co op aren’t talking to me I had a sudden phone call from [a] housing officer at Co op homes. Very curt, coldly told me what’s going to happen and that the Co op WILL obviously be granted the house back.”
The next step is a court hearing, which Lynne says she will attend despite fears about the impact on both of them.
She said: “We are effectively homeless and terrified. I just want someone to listen before it’s too late.”
