Alvechurch family forced to ‘downsize’ after bereavement - The Bromsgrove Standard

Alvechurch family forced to ‘downsize’ after bereavement

Bromsgrove Editorial 7th Aug, 2014 Updated: 17th Oct, 2016   0

A WOMAN has spoken of her disappointment after being asked by Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (bdht) to leave the home she grew up in.

Elizabeth Guy lived in the three-bedroom house in Bear Hill, Alvechurch, with her brothers and her mum and dad who first moved into the property, originally owned by Bromsgrove District Council, in 1952.

Her mum, dad and her one brother Philip continued to live in the home when Elizabeth moved out to get married and have children and, when their parents passed away, bdht said Philip was able to continue living there.

She said, following their deaths, Philip became seriously ill and struggled to pay the bills, getting himself into debt and arrears.




Around six-and-a-half years ago Elizabeth moved back to her childhood home with her own family to help take care of her brother.

Elizabeth said she cleared all the debts and looked after her brother until last May when he sadly passed away from kidney failure.


She added on the day her brother died she rang bdht and was told she, her husband and her two sons, who are in their early 20s, could no longer stay there and would have to downsize.

She said bdht told her she must leave and would be rehomed in a maisonette or two-bedroom flat which would, more than likely, not be in Alvechurch.

Originally she said she was told they had to move by July 7, but that was extended because of the mitigating circumstances surrounding her brother’s death.

Elizabeth met with a representative with bdht last Friday (August 1) but the situation has still not been resolved.

She said: “The woman who we met with said it would be very unlikely we would be able to get somewhere in Alvechurch.

“She said because my sons are too old, I am not eligible to have anything for the four of us.

“I’m not happy with the way they have treated us.

“I have never lived anywhere else (other than Alvechurch) and have been here for the last 52 years and that is what I am most upset about.

“This is where I grew up and where everyone I know is.”

Clare Garner, bdht’s head of housing needs, said: “We have been discussing the circumstances around this issue with Mrs Guy and her family, and we will be working with them as much as we can.”

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