Caretaker whose home came with job faces eviction
A SCHOOL caretaker who has worked for Coventry City Council for more than 30 years faces the ‘stressful’ prospect of being made homeless days before he is due to retire.
Kevin Mcdonagh, 65, first moved to his home in Newcombe Road three decades ago.
Kevin’s home is tied to his employment at Earlsdon Primary School, but he says he was told that if he ever did leave his job, he’d be found alternative accommodation in a council house.
Kevin said: “I am a caretaker and the house came with the job. Back in 1993, I was given a tenancy agreement and told to sign up for council housing. It said if I ever did leave the council would give me a house.”
Just days before he is due to retire on Thursday, June 2, he says the local council has now requested that he and his three sons leave the property. Kevin claims that as the years have rolled by, the local authority has failed to honour the original tenancy agreement and instead ‘want me out.’
Coventry City Council says that Kevin’s home is linked to his job, which he accepts. But it also says it is not a ‘social housing landlord’ and is not responsible for finding him a new home. Neither Kevin or the council still have a copy of the agreement he signed when he started work 19 years ago, but he maintains it was in put place and is ‘flabbergasted’ the local authority is not willing to honour it.
He added: “And they are not willing to offer me the house to buy, they are not willing to let me rent the house, no alternatives.”
Kevin says the situation is causing him undue stress as he already has to battle several health conditions. Struggling with COPD, chronic back pain and severe nerve damage.
“I am under that much medication it is unbelievable, you know painkillers and things like that, and the stress is making me even worse,’’ Kevin said.
As the eviction date looms, Kevin is becoming increasingly ‘worried’ as he says he has ‘not got any plans’ for alternative accommodation.
He says he ‘does not care’ about the council pushing for him to leave and has refused to vacate the property until he ‘finds somewhere else’ to live. He adamantly said: “If I have to squat, I will squat.”
Kevin, who worked for the council for three years before taking his current job, added: “It feels like the council are brushing me under the carpet, they are washing their hands of me.
“I am absolutely flabbergasted that I have done 32 years of service for the council and this is how they treat somebody.”
A spokesman for Coventry City Council said: “The property has always been provided as part of Mr Mcdonagh’s employment and therefore any right-to-buy legislation is not relevant. This would only apply if the housing had been provided under the council’s statutory obligations under the Housing Act.
“The property sits within the education portfolio and is intended for education use until it is declared surplus by the service. If the Education Service declare the property surplus to their requirements, the property would transfer to the Council’s Corporate Property. If at any point the house does become available for sale, under the rules of the Local Government Act, the Council must by law ensure that best consideration (sale price) is received such as placing on the open market or by auction.
“The Council is not a registered social landlord and does not let any residential properties to individuals that are not employed by the council, unless on temporary emergency basis. Therefore, we are not able to let the property to Mr Mcdonagh’s once his employment ends.
“We have been talking to Mr Mcdonagh about this issue since 2019 and we have always outlined the position in that time during those conversations. The Council continues to offer advice and support to Mr Mcdonagh, including advising him to contact the Housing Options service.”