Support for brothers fighting for house is 'overwhelming'
TWO brothers fighting to stay in their home of 64 years say they have received overwhelming support online and from the local community.
Swansea Council asked Kevin and Steve Newell to leave their council house in Portmead after three recent deaths in the family left the property under-occupied.
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Two brothers Kevin Newell (right) and Steve Newell are being asked by the council to move from the family home of 64 years because they say the council house is under occupied
Since the brothers' plight was highlighted in Monday's Evening Post the pair said they had been flooded with supportive messages.
"A lot of the people around here in Portmead have been saying it's ridiculous we are being asked to leave," said Kevin, 52, the only remaining registered tenant of the three-bed house in Cheriton Crescent.
"They ask me, 'what is wrong with Swansea Council?'.
"I understand rules are rules, but I think they should be bent if there are very specific circumstances — like there is now."
Kevin's sister died two years ago, followed by one of his brothers in 2010 and his mother 11 months ago.
He is now the sole registered tenant, but his other brother, Steve, has temporarily moved in after a divorce with his wife and is willing to share the property. "We have had a rough few years," Steve said.
"And I think I will have another funeral on my hands if we are forced to move — my brother is not well and he is a home boy.
Petition
"He will not cope in the outside world. The neighbours look after him up here."
Friends in the community have suggested getting together a petition to fight for the brothers to stay in the area.
And local shopkeeper Cam Johal said she would display in her window a notice asking people to sign the plea.
"I have known him for a long time," said Ms Johal, who has owned Cross Stores, in Pentregethin Road for 23 years. I knew his brother who passed away and the family are very nice so I will support them."
The issue is also at the centre of a lively debate on the Post's website, where the story attracted some 40 comments in just three days.
While many people were sympathetic to the brothers' cause, other users, like Jimmy_Blue, said: "They don't own the property.
"The owners want the property back.
"Tough."
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "We do understand and we are sympathetic to Mr Newell's concerns.
"This is why we're working closely with him in relation to his housing needs and are continuing to provide him with advice and assistance in order to achieve a positive outcome.
"Like all cities, there's a large waiting list for all types of council accommodation.
"This is particularly the case for family-sized homes."
alex.smith@swwmedia.co.uk
22 Comments
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by Jamoboii
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 9:10PM
“According to a document published by shelter cymru in 2009 there were around 2000 long term empty/ unoccupied properties in Swansea. Maybe the selfish homeowners of the properties which are clearly not needed by them should hand the land over to social landlords at a discounted cost to assist with the country's frightening housing stock shortages.
It is my understanding that when a tenancy starts with the local authority, after a short probationary period the tenancy becomes either an "assured" or "secured" tenancy. Each term means that the tenant, provided that they do not break the terms of the tenancy, can live in the property indefinitely. Why is this not the case for the two brothers?”
by missbuffay
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 6:09PM
“I believe that they HAVE been offered a 2 bedroom flat which would surely be easier for Kevin to take care of with his arthrytis.”
by SuzGorseinon
Monday, February 06 2012, 10:37PM
“Surely the council should show some compassion and work with the brothers to find them a smaller home in the area they live in. There is a shortage of council houses and the fact is this house is now to big for the brothers. However a precedent is being set here, would all of those supporting the council still support them if they behaved in the same way to an elderly person who had become the sole resident due to a bereavement?”
by missbuffay
Monday, February 06 2012, 2:05PM
“PJL1967 - the article gives the impression that Kevin's brother is only living there temporarily in which case the 2013 Reforms will affect him - my apologies if his brother has moved in permanently.
trunkles3 - of course I don't approve of rogue landlords. Quite the opposite, I think there should be a regulating body that oversees all private landlords and has the power to punish bad landlords that take advantage of those in housing crisis.
My point was that there are many people, both homeowners and tenants who face tragedy which results in them having to move to smaller accommodation. Every tenant signs a tenancy agreement which details his rights and those of the landlord - if you don't agree with the tenancy agreement don't sign it.”
by UpperBank
Monday, February 06 2012, 5:02AM
“I wish them all the best.”
by raywelsby
Sunday, February 05 2012, 8:29PM
“The council housing department needs a complete overall, because they have not got a clue how to run the housing department.They have got people with one bedroom flats who do not live in them, this is fact. Two rehouse these two gentlemen they would have a right to two seperate one bedroom flats and if they are unemployed then it would cost more in benefits but leaving them to share a home it makes economic sense.”
by wynperkins
Saturday, February 04 2012, 2:05AM
“When you do move then can we come to the house warming? :)”
by trunkles3
Friday, February 03 2012, 5:14PM
“missbuffay - a private landlord doesn't allow secure tenancies and can throw them out with 2 months notice. Do you really believe that is a good thing ? You do know that many private landlords are totally unscrupulous and put people into unsafe, wet, cold properties and don't give a toss? And their tenants suffer because they've nowhere else to move to, even if they are in work.
We're hearing plenty of anti-social housing rhetoric from the tories, but silence on the huge numbers of people who are struggling to pay private rents and keep up with their mortages. People need homes and they shouldn't have to pay half of their earnings to put a roof over their heads. Social housing came about because of the greed of landlords and employers with tied tenancies. How soon people forget.”
by PJL1967
Friday, February 03 2012, 3:29PM
“missbuffay, you are wrong in you assertion that, quote; "In 2013 his housing benefit will only cover the cost of a 1 bedroom property". The proposals regarding housing benefit are with regards to tenants with more than one spare bedroom. As there are two bedrooms being used by the brothers there will only be one spare bedroom, so they will not be affected.”
by PJL1967
Friday, February 03 2012, 3:20PM
“The problem with the serious lack of available council properties to meet demand is not because of individuals not moving out when the children grow up or someone passes away, it is because successive governments have been busy selling off the properties and have failed to build new out homes out of the proceeds.
There are currently 91000 people on council waiting lists in Wales, we simply need to build more council homes to meet the growing demand!
Manufactured arguments over the 'deserving and undeserving' council tenants leave us fighting amongst ourselves while the powers that be sit on their hands over the issue...”