We blew £250k, give us a home
A FAMILY are demanding a council house after they squandered a £250,000 inheritance in 12 months on cars, motorbikes and weight-loss surgery.
The Caradeucs are angry their application for social housing was rejected because officials discovered they had spent the money.
Keith Caradeuc, 53, inherited the cash from his father’s estate which he split with his brother.
Father-of-two Keith admits he bought cars, moved to a nicer rented house and paid for expensive weight-loss operations for wife Tania, 42.
They inherited the cash in 2015 and spent it on three new cars, several motorbikes and £30,000 on the medical procedures.
The Caradeucs, from St Peter Port, Guernsey, say they have no money left to pay their rent and could be made homeless at the end of this month.
Benefit officials have rejected their application.
Tania said: “I’m just very upset about it, with us being a local family. In hindsight the money should have lasted longer.
“I was excited when I found out about the money because I came from a not very well-off family and I’ve never seen money like that in my life.
“But it’s ruined everything. In a way it was the worst thing that could have happened.”
Keith, a former delivery driver, and his brother sold their father’s house last June and shared around £420,000 from the sale which topped up their inheritance.
Keith and Tania, who have two children, say they are unable to work due to mental or physical disabilities.
The family still receive disability and carers allowance for one of their daughters who has a rare chromosome deficiency. But they don’t have enough income to pay the rent at their
new home and have now applied for a council house.
During the application the Caradeucs had to supply bank statements and their application was refused.
A spokesman for the Employment and Social Security department on Guernsey said: “We are unable to discuss individual cases. However, when social housing tenants come into substantial sums of money, typically through an inheritance, they are required to vacate their house.
“We communicate clearly with tenants who leave in such circumstances and inform them of the length of time that they are expected to accommodate themselves away from social housing.
“It is important that the system treats everyone fairly, given the demand for social housing.”