About 700 people have signed a petition asking Caerphilly’s board to allow Andrea Long to keep her home on Greenway, Abertysswg, following the sudden death of her mother, Ruth, in January. The council told the 53-year-old she had to leave the three-bedroom house because the rules only allow one succession per tenancy. The lease had already been transferred to Ruth when Andrea’s father, Kenneth, died in 2010. The law in Wales is set to change on July 15 to allow two successions per lease – but Andrea was told she had to hand over her keys by on the 4th of July. The council says it must balance its desires with “the significant need and demand for social housing”. Andreas’s niece, Katrina, asks the council to show “compassion”. He said: “All Andrea is asking is for the council to show some compassion and allow her to succeed in the lease as she would have been allowed if her mother had died later in the year. “When Andrea’s father died, her mother’s name was not on the original rent, even though they had lived there together as husband and wife throughout their married life. “Therefore, her mother had to put her name on the rent. In the eyes of the council this was seen as a succession in the rent.” Andrea added: “I have devoted my life to caring for both my mother and my father, removing a burden from the power that might have taken care of both of them if I had not. “I did not have the opportunity to have a family of my own or to have a social life. I was never able to go out with friends or meet people because I was a caretaker in my home for most of my life. “I do not sleep out of grief for my mom, but with that on top, it ‘s like mental cruelty. It’ s draining.” The 53-year-old was born in the city council and has never lived anywhere else. Her mother died suddenly in January of a bowel perforation and she feels that the only thing left for her is home. Andrea added: “The sudden death of my mother left me in a state of shock and I feel that the only thing I have left is my home. “If I had to move elsewhere, I would lose the only few friends I have to neighbors around me. “I’m not sure how I could handle it if that happened. The thought of emptying my house and moving my belongings causes me nightmares after such a short time.” A Caerphilly Council spokeswoman said: “While we like Ms. Long’s situation under the 1985 Housing Act, there is only one inheritance right to a secure lease. “As the late Mrs Long succeeded in the lease after the death of her late husband, there is no further right of succession. “If the late Mr. and Mrs. Long were tenants together, a succession would have taken place even after Mr. Long’s death.” Unfortunately, there are cases where residents such as Ms. Long do not have the legal right to succeed in leasing the property where they have lived, and the council, as the owner, must balance the landlord’s wishes with our obligations to address the significant need and demand. for social housing by residents throughout the county township. “These situations are handled on a case-by-case basis through a process of discretion.” “This offers the opportunity to request a review of the decision and to provide any further information it deems relevant, along with the opportunity to attend a hearing in person. “To date, we have not received a request from Ms. Long for a review of this decision.”
