Published Date:
11 November 2008
A young couple with a sick baby face being thrown out of their home.
Scott Adamson, 20, and Donna Sayers, 21, moved into a house, in Durham Street, Wigan, owned by Adactus Housing, three years ago.
The name on the lease was Donna's dad, Derek Sayers, 43, who occasionally stays there, but mainly works away and lives in a caravan.
But the couple are due to be evicted as Mr Sayers has not paid the rent and owes up to £2,500.
To make matters worse, the couple have a five-month-old daughter, Aaliyah, who suffers from gastrocisis, where her bowels were formed outside the body.
Every three months they have to take her to hospitals in Manchester and Wigan. Donna said: "He's not been paying his rent arrears and, because it has got so much, they have taken it to court.
"He is living with his girlfriend. It's out of my dad's hands, because it has gone to court. Whether he pays or not, we are still being evicted.
"I'm not happy about it, but at the end of the day, he is my dad. We don't speak now.
"Our housing officer told us to go down to county court to keep the house, but it's not in my name, so I can't do that."
Wigan Council's housing officers have been working with the couple and have told them they will be given accommodation.
But Donna is devastated about being made homeless at Christmas.
She said: "It's not Christmas if you are not in your own home. We will just have to keep strong for Aaliyah."
Donna said she would be more than happy to pay the arrears off in instalments, as the couple do not work, and are unable to pay the bill in full. But Adactus said the rent arrears need to be paid in full. If not, the family will be evicted as planned.
A spokesman for Adactus Housing Association said: "Evictions for rent arrears are always dealt with by the county court, and the tenant always has the opportunity for the court to consider their situation.
"In the case of 14 Durham Street neither of the two occupants holds the tenancy for property, nor are they able to pay the arrears.
"Therefore, we are unable to allow them to continue living in the property.
"We have already contacted the local authority to ensure that they are doing everything they can to find the occupants somewhere to live following the eviction."
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Last Updated:
11 November 2008 10:22 AM
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Source:
Wigan Evening Post
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Location:
Wigan