War vet Tony Squirrell, 74, from Bridgwater, optimistic of being rehoused after crunch council meeting

The 74-year-old and his wife Joan, 69, from Bridgwater, say they lost their rented property after their landlord decided to put it up for sale.

They say they were ‘forced’ to find temporary accommodation and have been living apart ­- with Tony going as far as to sleep in his allotment shed.

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But Mr and Mrs Squirrell and David Wood, from charity Help 4 Homeless Veterans, met with officers at Sedgemoor District Council today (June 8) to discuss their case.

A council spokesman said it has a severe shortage of council-owned bungalows, but the couple are feeling optimistic.

"The meeting went well, we made some progress with the council," David said.

"I commended the council for the work that they do but did state some important points.

"I stated that 90 per cent of the relevant legislation has been followed in this case but said that 10 per cent is missing as the council have not found suitable accommodation for Tony and Joan.”

The council said it has done all it can to help the couple given its restraints and have listed them as ‘Gold Band’ high priority on the housing register.

Temporary accommodation was offered at the YMCA-run Wade House, in Highbridge, which was refused by Mr and Mrs Squirrell which they described as unsuitable.

David added: "The council said they are going to review the temporary accommodation that was offered to Tony and Joan which they said they will do as a matter of urgency.

"We have paid for Tony and Joan to stay in a bed and breakfast until Monday (June 11) and will continue to pay for them to stay there until the council offers them suitable temporary accommodation. I can't ask for any more than that.

"If the council come back and say Wade House is the only option, the charity will carry on paying for Tony and Joan to stay in temporary accommodation until they find a home."

A spokeswoman for Sedgemoor District Council said the couple have asked for a review of the case which is a legal process.

She added: “It hinges around suitable accommodation. We say Wade House is suitable as temporary accommodation and they say it is not and it is this which is being reviewed. We understand they have not formally viewed the accommodation at Wade House.

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“Normally where a homeless applicant refuses an offer of temporary accommodation, we can discharge our duty to them. However, we have decided not to do so in this case and they therefore retain their priority status (gold band).

“We will continue to offer them financial help to secure accommodation in an area of their choice, for things such as deposit, rent in advance or removal costs if they find a private let.”

Mr and Mrs Squirrell will continue to bid for properties as and when they become available.

A Sedgemoor District Council spokesman added: "Mr and Mrs Squirrell made a homeless application in April 2018 after their landlord served them with a notice to leave as the landlord wished to sell the property.  

"They stated that they wished to remain in Bridgwater in a one-bedroom bungalow. 

"They were immediately assigned a case officer by SDC who has been working with them to try to secure alternative accommodation.

"We worked with the landlord to extend their notice period by four weeks.

"They were put in the highest priority, Gold Band, on our housing register and have been bidding for properties of their choice through the Homefinder Somerset/Choice Based Letting system (see below).

"There were discussions between Mr and Mrs Squirrell and their case officer near the time when they had to leave their private let.

"At that time, it was explained that our normal temporary accommodation, Wade House in Highbridge, was full.

"In those cases we look at alternatives such as a Lodge Hotel about 8 miles from Bridgwater, but no formal offer was made.  A couple of days later, space at Wade House became available and was offered.

"At present, the Council do not have any empty one-bedroom bungalows; there is a severe shortage of council-owned bungalows.  We have lost a lot of council-owned property under the Right-to-Buy scheme.

"We currently have 1,700 active applications on housing register with many applications being elderly and vulnerable.  Thirty-six of these applications (including Mr and Mrs Squirrell) are in the Gold Band.  

"Mr and Mrs Squirrell decided to stay with family members on a temporary basis.

"Temporary accommodation has been made available to Mr and Mrs Squirrell, which they have refused.

"We have also offered help to secure privately rented accommodation in a location of their own choice, which they have refused.

"We have offered help with cash deposits and rent in advance for privately rented accommodation, which they have refused.

"Mr and Mrs Squirrell have been bidding for properties, are being shortlisted and they have a good chance of being rehoused in Council accommodation once a suitable property becomes available.

"Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of accommodation in all districts; demand is high and therefore it inevitably takes time for properties to become available.

"The Council works hard to prevent homelessness whenever we can because we are only too aware of the stress it causes.

"The offer of short-term temporary accommodation remains open to Mr and Mrs Squirrell as does the offer to help secure privately rented accommodation.

"Following a meeting on Friday, 8th June between housing officers and Mr and Mrs Squirrell and a representative from Help 4 Homeless Veterans.  At that meeting, they asked for a review of their case, which is a legal process.

"It hinges around ‘suitable accommodation’. We maintain Wade House is suitable as temporary accommodation and they say that is not and it is this which is being reviewed.

"We understand that they have not formally viewed the accommodation at Wade House.

"We will continue to offer them financial help to secure accommodation in an area of their choice, for things such as deposit, rent in advance or removal costs if they find a private let and work with Mr and Mrs Squirrell to help them secure a solution to their housing needs.

"We understand that Mr and Mrs Squirrell have started looking at 1-bed flats as well as bidding on properties in Taunton."