Grieving sons told to leave their home of 50 years by council

Dale (pictured) and Paul Summers shared the council house with their mother, Frances Dorothy Summers

Two brothers from East Sussex have been told they need to leave their home of 50 years.

Dale and Paul Summers, from Lewes, said they had been issued with a notice to quit the council house they shared with their mother, Frances Dorothy Summers, after she died in May.

Paul Summers said: "It brings tears to my eyes when I talk about it".

Lewes District Council said the brothers did not meet the criteria required for council housing.

Mrs Summers moved into the council house in 1973 with her sons and her name was on the tenancy, along with her husband's.

The brothers said they had hoped to take over the tenancy after their mother, but received a notice to leave the house after she died.

Under the current law, the brothers do not automatically inherit the tenancy from their mother as it can only be passed on once.

Paul Summers said they had been advised to rent privately, based on their personal savings.

"The council have made us feel awful," said Dale Summers.

In a statement, Lewes District Council said: "It should be noted that we currently have 611 applicants on our housing register, all from people who do meet the criteria, including not having the means to buy or rent their own home."

The brothers have contacted Lewes MP Maria Caulfield who said she had raised their situation with the local housing authority and Lewes District Council and was "awaiting the outcome of this".

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