Hackney siblings face eviction after mother’s cancer death

Siblings who face eviction from their childhood home following their mother’s sudden death have appealed to Hackney Council for “fairness and compassion”.

Joanne Thompson, 44, and her brother Calvin Gray, 55, may have to leave the property they have lived in for more than four decades because their late mother’s tenancy was transferred to her from their father over 30 years ago.

Under succession rules in England and Wales, a council tenancy can only be passed on once.

The authority also said it was assessing whether the family was eligible for another council property and it had been “in close contact” with them to explain these succession rules.

Joanne thought she was getting on the front foot by requesting a tenancy succession for their flat on Hackney’s Linzell Estate, but she was soon told the family did not qualify because of her father’s transferring the tenancy in 1992.

The council plans to end the tenancy on 21 December, giving Mr Gray, Ms Thompson, her husband Dale and their five-year-old daughter 28 days from then to leave the property.

The family says they are now facing the loss of their “emotional and community anchor” on Hackney’s Linzell Estate, where they have lived since 1978.

Their mother, Megan, died in July after a short illness with cancer.

The siblings have said their grief has been compounded by delays to her burial, which took two months, and by Ms Thompson losing her job at Santander.

“It’s so close to Christmas,” Mr Gray told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“They haven’t actually shown us proof of the earlier succession,” his sister added. “I just want clarity.”

The family may receive a discretionary offer of succession or be rehoused, but Ms Thompson said she has not had anything in writing and is frustrated by “vague” conversations with housing officers.

She said: “A lot of other people have lived here for a very long time. My daughter has just started school here.”

Hackney Council said it had been “in close contact with the family for many months” to advise them, but Ms Thompson denied this.

A council spokesperson added: “We fully recognise that this is a difficult time for the family and, as we do with all similar cases, we are seeking to treat this situation sensitively and with consideration for the surviving family members.

“As we have explained to the family, as the tenancy on the home has been transferred once already there is no further statutory right to succession.

“However, we are currently assessing whether they may be eligible for an alternative home through the council’s housing allocations process.

“If this is agreed, as their home is currently under-occupied, any offer made would be for a more suitable home that meets their needs.”