Foster mum found drowned after bedroom tax eviction
A FOSTER carer in debt due to the bedroom tax and evicted from her home was found dead at sea, an inquest heard.
As she was being kicked out, Margaret Blenman, 48, told housing officers they were “lucky not to find a dead body”. Two days later, a fisherman discovered her fully clothed corpse in the water near Brighton Marina.
Ms Blenman’s housing benefit was cut by 14% because her spare room, for foster children, was not being used, the coroner heard.
She first ran up rent arrears in 2014 and in November last year she was evicted from her home in Streatham Hill, South London.
Housing provider Optivo’s Jackie Pauley, said Ms Blenman became “incredibly calm” when housing officers left her and “something didn’t feel right”.
There was no reply when the office tried to phoned her later and she was not seen again. The coroner recorded an open verdict.
After the hearing in Brighton, Ms Blenman’s sister Wendy said: “Optivo need to make sure when evicting tenants their welfare is looked after and if there are concerns, they ask questions.”