Rent ban welfare pair are told: Stop sucking life out of country
A COUPLE on benefits trying to rent a room were told to “get a job and stop sucking the life out of the country” – then blocked from moving in.
Kevin Parkes, 32, told jobless Maria Brindle, 25, and her partner Liam Bellis, 24, that if they “pulled their fingers out” they would feel better about themselves and advised them to stop blaming ill health for their lack of work.
Builder Mr Parkes, who was vetting prospective tenants for a friend, insisted he was simply trying to help the couple out by giving them the “motivation” to get back on their feet.
He dished out the tough advice after the pair contacted him about a room in a shared house in Portsmouth that was advertised on his Facebook page.
When asked if he took couples on housing benefit, Mr Parkes quizzed the pair on their reasons for claiming welfare payments and was told Mr Bellis suffered depression and Miss Brindle had a bad back.
In his rejection message, he wrote: “I’m going to be absolutely blunt and upfront right now. You both need to pull yourselves together and stop blaming ill health for your reason not to work.
“If you both pulled your fingers out you might feel better about yourselves and each other.
“I’ve had my say to help you, not to amuse myself.”
Yesterday Mr Parkes, of Havant, near Portsmouth, defended his post, saying: “This woman hopefully hasn’t taken it the wrong way or anything.
“It was not intended to be bullying or mean. It was just a message to say, ‘Go and get a job and contribute to this country’.”
Miss Brindle said last night: “I asked for a room to share with my partner who has issues with mental health. I have a serious back issue too, which started when I gave birth around a year ago.
“I don’t understand why he felt the need to come out with that.
“We have continued searching for a home for us but we have not found a place yet.”