Family of 8 in 3-bed house turned down council's offer
A FAMILY of eight desperate to move out of their three-bed council house have declined to move to a larger home in another area, Swansea Council has said.
Christian Lorey, 30, and his partner, Hayley Green, 33, asked the authority to move them and their six children out of their three-bed home in Caemawr.
The council said there were no five-bed homes in the family's preferred area, Birchgrove, and Mr Lorey and his partner had turned down a move to an area understood to be Blaenymaes.
"Mr Lorey requested a five-bedroom property in Birchgrove," a council spokesman said.
"Unfortunately the council doesn't own any five-bedroom properties in that area.
"As there are few four-bedroom properties in the Birchgrove area Mr Lorey was advised to consider a move to other areas of the city.
"He and his family were subsequently offered a four-bedroom house in another area, but the offer was declined. However, we will continue to provide advice and assistance to achieve a positive outcome for Mr Lorey and his family."
On Monday the Post reported Mr Lorey's plea to move his family out of their house in Heol Cefni and into a bigger property, having been on the waiting list 11 months.
The story sparked a lively debate on the Post's website, www.thisissouthwales.co.uk, with nearly 50 comments posted in four hours.
Though neither Mr Lorey nor his partner work — taking home some £30,000 a year in child benefit, tax credits, and disability allowance for their oldest son — he said the situation had nothing to do with money. "Even if I got a job tomorrow it would make no difference if we were still living in a house which is too small for us," he said.
Many of the comments posted online in response to the story suggested the couple should look for work rather than asking to move.
The Department of Work and Pensions said its proposed £26,000 benefit cap, heavily contested in Parliament, would make life fairer between employed and unemployed families.
A spokesman said: "Families on benefits should have to make the same life choices as working families, and that's why we're introducing a cap on benefits, to restore fairness to the welfare system while ensuring support goes to those who need it. It's not fair that benefit claimants can receive higher incomes than families who are in work — in some cases more than double the average household income."
47 Comments
View all
by turkster
Sunday, February 19 2012, 7:17PM
“with six kids Hayley must love sex......maybe she could find a job in one of the many massage parlours in swansea”
by PJL1967
Thursday, February 16 2012, 2:26PM
“chwareteg1, I totally agree with your comments about this family BUT what you TaxedAnt and many other commentators to this story seem to fail to understand is if we compare this particular family to the average family on benefits were are comparing apples with oranges.
Yet clearly, judging by many of the reactions to this story, this family are being used locally to rationalise the need to introduce a cap on welfare benefits nationally - which will affects will affect millions of people throughout the UK, including BOTH people who claim in-work AND out-of-work benefits! (Ironically, that's probably you, me and most of the people reading and commenting on this story!)
Initally the Evening Post covered the story of this family purely in regards to them wanting a bigger home, but this particular article (above) then insidiously introduces a reference to the government proposals to introduce a cap on welfare benefits, hence my interjection here.
We should all remember the idiom "One swallow does not make a summer" because this family are not typical of most families claiming benefits, so the comparison is absurd!
Also, PLEASE BE AWARE, the article states the family recieves some £30,000 a year in benefits, including disability allowance for their oldest son. However (and it's a very big however), the benefits cap does NOT apply to households where someone is claiming disability living allowance, therefore the Evening Post's accosiation with this family to the governments proposed cap on benefits is a complete red herring...!!!
I hope now you understand where I am coming from and that people will stop hitting the dislike button on my comments in the mistaken belief I am defending the family mentioned in this article, because I am not! I am defending people on low incomes who will be affected by the governments cuts.”
by missbuffay
Thursday, February 16 2012, 1:30PM
“If they were to privately rent the maximum housing benefit they'd get would be for a 4 bedroom house so - shock horror- they may have to pay something towards their rent! Council housing was built for low income families back in the day when people could restrain themselves and if they couldn't afford children they didn't have them, that's why there's a shortage of 4 or 5 bed council houses. I agree with all of the comments asking why, when they were in a 3 bedroom house, did they continue to have children. I know of alot of couples who would love a second child but make the decision not to because they haven't got the finances to provide adequately. If the property is so unsuitable for the children, where are Social Services?”
by Dan01
Thursday, February 16 2012, 1:23PM
“The proposed cap of £26000 seems far to high for an area like Swansea. How many earn that much in these parts? Not many! It is scandalous, with such a large number of folk out of work, that beggars like these feel brazen enough to demand a bigger free house. My son is currently out of work, and the benefits he gets are almost negligible in relation to his outgoings including mortgage etc. Add to that his negative equity he is in a dire situation. He has worked for the 14 years since he left school, but there is little support or empathy from the government for genuine people. The wasters get it all.”
by willy88
Thursday, February 16 2012, 12:14PM
“They built their pit , let them lie in it. DWP- stop their benefits, Swansea Council- no more offers of alternative housing, it's 'take it or leave' it policy and Evening Post please stop publishing such nonsense about such a useless, hopeless bunch of wasters !!!”
by TaxedAnt
Thursday, February 16 2012, 10:00AM
“Okay PJL1967, seeing as it is possible to earn more via the benefit system than minimum wage allows, my advice would be for everyone to quit their jobs and follow this family's lead. What, pray tell, is your solution to sustain this situation when there are no working tax payers to fund it all?
I have said it before (but all comments were deleted), the benefit system is there to protect those who fall on hard times. You should be fed, clothed and housed, but why expect an enormous amount of disposable income as this family apparently seem to be receiving as well? They appear to be better off financially than my wife and I who both work in quite reasonably paid jobs. Why should we work? Shall we just give up our jobs and have more children than we can responsibly afford to keep? Are you happy to pay for my future plan?”
by Taweformation
Thursday, February 16 2012, 8:19AM
“Lets face it they will get what they want. People like that always do! and the people who go out to work to provide for their families will pay for it. Its not on but dont you just love it when families like this say they are hard done by?”
by GSVale
Thursday, February 16 2012, 7:02AM
“I am amazed this story this story hasn't moved on by now. I am confident that some dogooder social worker will intervene and move them to a luxury mansion house, probably down the Gower, with a lovely sea view.
They will need a decent plot of land to go with it, for all them motorbikes and quads they own.”
by chwareteg1
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 5:56PM
“Reading PJL1967 comments, whats getting up the public's nose is the fact these claimants have absolutely no interest in work, if you offered them the same wage as they claim in benefits, they wouldn't except employment.
They have become acclimatised to a life of claiming all the various benefits, and contribute nothing i just wonder if they offer, or ever have offered to do voluntary work within their community!, they look at claiming benefits as a lifestyle career. Very sad, and sending all the wrong signals to their children.”
by Taweformation
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 4:55PM
“How long before EP takes us all off?
These people need to come to reality and accept that you cant have what you want if you dont get off your backside and work for it.
work does not include dodgy dealing either!!”