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Hope for Brighton man amid eviction threat
Graham Burgess is awaiting confirmation from Brighton and Hove City Council that he won't have to move
Graham Burgess is awaiting confirmation from Brighton and Hove City Council that he won't have to move

A man who faced eviction from the home he has lived in for more than 50 years is now likely to be able to stay, experts claim.

Graham Burgess, 57, was told earlier this year he was being booted out of his council house in Chelwood Close, Brighton, just weeks after the death of his father.

He has lived there since 1957, apart from a short period living in Newick, near Lewes, in the 1990s.

Brighton and Hove City Council claimed the twobedroom property was underoccupied with just one person living there and said its tenancy could not be transferred from Mr Burgess's father to him.

After The Argus highlighted his plight and following the intervention of an expert on council house tenancy, it appears Mr Burgess will be able to stay.

Under council rules tenancy of its properties cannot be passed between family members more than once.

The council claimed the tenancy of Mr Burgess's home had been passed from his mother to his father when she died - therefore making a transfer between Mr Burgess and his father against the rules. But Mr Burgess maintained that his parents had a joint tenancy and, therefore, his taking over of the tenancy was only the first time it has been transferred.

Stuart Gover, of Brighton and Hove Council Leaseholders Independent Forum, said: "The discussions I have had with senior figures at the council have been very productive and it appears they now accept the tenancy has only been transferred once.

"I would be absolutely amazed if, following the talks I've had on Graham's behalf, he is forced out.

"He has a legitimate right to be in the home and the council now appears to accept that."

Mr Burgess said: "I've not had any confirmation in writing but I understand the council is using some common sense and that I'm due to have the decision confirmed soon."

The council sent Mr Burgess a letter, dated May 2, warning him because he was a single man of working age, he was viewed as a low priority on its housing list.

Council housing officer, Tim Huntley, added: "As a consequence I must advise you you will not have an ongoing entitlement to remain at Chelwood Close."

The letter said he would have to vacate by June 2.

Brighton and Hove City Council was unable to confirm whether Mr Burgess would be allowed to stay.

Both his ward councillors, Geoffrey Theobald and Brian Pigeon have previously said they support his bid to stay in his home.

1:59pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Posted by: Rick H, Hove on 2:30pm Fri 9 May 08
Whilst this may seem to be a fair outcome on the face of it, it still appears to be a little unfair that a single person will be allowed to stay in a 2-bed flat when there are many families on the waiting list who'd kill for such a property. Surely a better resolution would be to give Mr Burgess a smaller property ie a one-bed in the area/estate as soon as one becomes free and let a more 'deserving' family have what is, essentially, a family home. And as for the councillors, well that just souonds like 'vote farming' to me!
Posted by: Debs, B/ton on 2:42pm Fri 9 May 08
Hope he's got a job - or are we paying his rent ?
Posted by: David, Haywards Heath on 2:49pm Fri 9 May 08
Rick H wrote:
Whilst this may seem to be a fair outcome on the face of it, it still appears to be a little unfair that a single person will be allowed to stay in a 2-bed flat when there are many families on the waiting list who'd kill for such a property. Surely a better resolution would be to give Mr Burgess a smaller property ie a one-bed in the area/estate as soon as one becomes free and let a more 'deserving' family have what is, essentially, a family home. And as for the councillors, well that just souonds like 'vote farming' to me!
Someone who has lived there for 50 years or as you say 'deserving' family
You wouldn't be an unmarried mother of say 18 or 19 would you?
Posted by: freddy, Hove on 2:51pm Fri 9 May 08
Flamin right. Evict them all, why hasnt he got a job a renting a flat or bedsit like the rest of us? why should we pay for him to have a big house?

It would be fair if the council evicted him and used the house for a family, but this guy shuld be given a room or bedsit by the council
Posted by: rent-a-goose, brighton on 3:16pm Fri 9 May 08
The council hate it when stuff like this happens,they send letters like 'you must do this' 'you must do that' and most people just follow orders,thinking it must be right because its the council ..but the councils run like a ruthless sales business,and they will try to screw you over and bend the rules wherever they can,hoping that your just the average poor vulnerable type that doesnt know any better or how to get help,or would rather avoid the nervous breakdown from the endless forms from hell and days spent in cues and waiting(to die) rooms.

With this old guy,i think he should be in a place with one bedroom or a bedsit,thats what the majority that are claiming benefits have to put up with,why should he be any different? ..and people who are really skint/homeless and ask for help will be lucky to get a tiny dirty bedsit in Whitehawk these days.
Posted by: Bob, HoveActually on 7:28pm Fri 9 May 08
Leaseholders have the right to 'sack' there managing agent, such as a Housing Association. Do Council tenants have the same rights and if not why not? Anyone know?
If tenants had the right to sack Council as a landlord, council would have to pull its socks up and raise its game.
Posted by: Rick H, Hove on 7:40pm Fri 9 May 08
David wrote:
Rick H wrote: Whilst this may seem to be a fair outcome on the face of it, it still appears to be a little unfair that a single person will be allowed to stay in a 2-bed flat when there are many families on the waiting list who\'d kill for such a property. Surely a better resolution would be to give Mr Burgess a smaller property ie a one-bed in the area/estate as soon as one becomes free and let a more \'deserving\' family have what is, essentially, a family home. And as for the councillors, well that just souonds like \'vote farming\' to me!
Someone who has lived there for 50 years or as you say \'deserving\' family You wouldn\'t be an unmarried mother of say 18 or 19 would you?
Erm...with a name like Rick, which is normally a contraction of either Richard or Ricky, I think it would be a rather large miracle if I was a 'mother' of any sort, let alone one of half my age!! And at the end of the day, who is more 'deserving' of a two-bed house/flat - a single mother with child (who will no doubt grow up and need a room of their own) or a single man who moved out when he got married and then moved back when he got divorced. Good job you can neither vote for or have a say in the running of B&H council as I would suggest your priorities are as narrow as your mind, given the stereotypical images your 'argument' relies upon - have a nice weekend!
Posted by: Danny Boy, Hove on 7:49pm Fri 9 May 08
Rick H wrote:
David wrote:
Rick H wrote: Whilst this may seem to be a fair outcome on the face of it, it still appears to be a little unfair that a single person will be allowed to stay in a 2-bed flat when there are many families on the waiting list who\'d kill for such a property. Surely a better resolution would be to give Mr Burgess a smaller property ie a one-bed in the area/estate as soon as one becomes free and let a more \'deserving\' family have what is, essentially, a family home. And as for the councillors, well that just souonds like \'vote farming\' to me!
Someone who has lived there for 50 years or as you say \'deserving\' family You wouldn\'t be an unmarried mother of say 18 or 19 would you?
Erm...with a name like Rick, which is normally a contraction of either Richard or Ricky, I think it would be a rather large miracle if I was a 'mother' of any sort, let alone one of half my age!! And at the end of the day, who is more 'deserving' of a two-bed house/flat - a single mother with child (who will no doubt grow up and need a room of their own) or a single man who moved out when he got married and then moved back when he got divorced. Good job you can neither vote for or have a say in the running of B&H council as I would suggest your priorities are as narrow as your mind, given the stereotypical images your 'argument' relies upon - have a nice weekend!
Well said Rick H
Posted by: Gentleman Jim, Brighton on 8:53pm Fri 9 May 08
You are so right Rick,its plain common sense,which does not appear to be a requirement for staff in the housing dept.
Posted by: Big Cheese, Peacehaven on 9:59pm Fri 9 May 08
So what does he now propose to do with the space once occupied by his dead father?
Posted by: Fizz, Brighton on 10:12pm Fri 9 May 08
The article states it's a 2-bed HOUSE, so definitely suitable for a family.
Posted by: zzzzz, brighton on 10:13pm Fri 9 May 08
and why should he not keep the house?

the understanding with all tenants has always been that you can pass on once.

I'm sure the neighbours would rather have him stay on than move in a chav family from hell with their 7 kids and a rottweiller
Posted by: FRED, brighton on 7:29am Sat 10 May 08
Kick him out!Lets get a single tart in, whos got a few chavs. It will bring a bit of life to the estate.Lets have another Whitehawk on our doorstep.Its a sin to have only one person in that place, when it will hold about ten.
Posted by: Woodingdean Geoff, Woodingdean of course on 8:04am Sat 10 May 08
Rent a goose and you fred, why you keep attacking Whitehawk in the manner you are?
Allow me to put you right.There's 1000s of nice ordinary honest hard working people living there that don't need comment's the like of what your implying posting on this page. Have a nice goosy day you two!!!
Posted by: Rick H, Hove on 8:08am Sat 10 May 08
Surely the point of this issue is not someone's social class, maritial status or, even, ethnicity. What it is is the ethical issue summarised by 'Is it ethically or morally correct for a single man to be occupying a family home - which is owned by B&H council for social housing - when there are many families living in poor conditions waiting for such a home?' And this is very much an example of someone not getting their own way and using a hostile media to force policy u-turns - shame on both the Argus and Mr Burgess for denying a family a decent home to live in - this issue couold have be solved so easily and now there's almost no way Mr B can be moved withouot running a squealing to the media again.
Posted by: Dave, Brighton on 9:50am Sat 10 May 08
No one is any more deserving than anyone.

If people weren't as stupid as to have kids when they cannot house or support them, themselves, they wouldn't be a problem.

Oh I forgot, the UK is the home of the scrounger. Gimme benefits, gimme council house.

If these families are in poor condition and without any money, WHY DO THEY HAVE KIDS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

These people make me sick.
Posted by: Maria Maxi, Brighton Central on 12:25pm Sat 10 May 08
They may have had jobs when they had the children and dog and been able to support them but their circumstances may have changed like illness or losing their jobs

dick

Posted by: Scott, Brighton on 12:52pm Sat 10 May 08
Maria Maxi wrote:
They may have had jobs when they had the children and dog and been able to support them but their circumstances may have changed like illness or losing their jobs

dick

Unlikely.

More likely never worked in their lazy, pointless lives.

The welfare state wont last for ever. When these parasites realise they will have to get off their lazy fat backsides and do some work, they are in for a shock.

Why should we subsidise their lives?
Posted by: Kathleen McMullen, Hove on 1:17pm Sat 10 May 08
If the council has breached its own rules the organisation to contact is the Local Authority Ombudsman. Its seems the tenant has proved the transfer to him is the first and only transfer.

And why are people surprised by someone living in one place all their lives? It's called social stability. What the council should do is convert some of the flats in the tower blocks for the over fifties, into family flats, so the SOCIAL BALANCE is more evenly distributed.
Posted by: Dave Hater, Hove on 3:16pm Sat 10 May 08
Dave wrote:
No one is any more deserving than anyone. If people weren't as stupid as to have kids when they cannot house or support them, themselves, they wouldn't be a problem. Oh I forgot, the UK is the home of the scrounger. Gimme benefits, gimme council house. If these families are in poor condition and without any money, WHY DO THEY HAVE KIDS IN THE FIRST PLACE? These people make me sick.
That, of course, is at odds with the generally accepted hallmark of a modern and civilised society being that it (the society) organises itsefl to look after and provide for the weakest of its members! And sadly, all the arguments have focussed on the stereotypical 'single,young mother who has child to get council flat'. What about the married couple with a young child - the 'traditional' family unit that is espoused as the 'highest' order of family unit in Western society? Are they less deserving than this guy? What about the same couple but this time they have a disbabled child? Given your attitude, I hope you never end up having to rely upon others for support, financial or otherwise. Or maybe your solution would be to vet people, including their income, job security, career prospects, potential criminality, genetic make-up, social status etc etc, before allowing them to 'breed'. Its people like you who make me sick - misanthropic (a big word, go look it up) knee-jerking narrow-minded bigots, one and all.
Posted by: Liz, Hove on 3:19pm Sat 10 May 08
Dave Hater wrote:
Dave wrote:
No one is any more deserving than anyone. If people weren't as stupid as to have kids when they cannot house or support them, themselves, they wouldn't be a problem. Oh I forgot, the UK is the home of the scrounger. Gimme benefits, gimme council house. If these families are in poor condition and without any money, WHY DO THEY HAVE KIDS IN THE FIRST PLACE? These people make me sick.
That, of course, is at odds with the generally accepted hallmark of a modern and civilised society being that it (the society) organises itsefl to look after and provide for the weakest of its members! And sadly, all the arguments have focussed on the stereotypical 'single,young mother who has child to get council flat'. What about the married couple with a young child - the 'traditional' family unit that is espoused as the 'highest' order of family unit in Western society? Are they less deserving than this guy? What about the same couple but this time they have a disbabled child? Given your attitude, I hope you never end up having to rely upon others for support, financial or otherwise. Or maybe your solution would be to vet people, including their income, job security, career prospects, potential criminality, genetic make-up, social status etc etc, before allowing them to 'breed'. Its people like you who make me sick - misanthropic (a big word, go look it up) knee-jerking narrow-minded bigots, one and all.
Are you a scrounger as well who worries when you learn of the growing resentment of those who subsidise your idol existence?
Posted by: Dave Hater, Hove on 3:26pm Sat 10 May 08
Liz wrote:
Dave Hater wrote:
Dave wrote: No one is any more deserving than anyone. If people weren't as stupid as to have kids when they cannot house or support them, themselves, they wouldn't be a problem. Oh I forgot, the UK is the home of the scrounger. Gimme benefits, gimme council house. If these families are in poor condition and without any money, WHY DO THEY HAVE KIDS IN THE FIRST PLACE? These people make me sick.
That, of course, is at odds with the generally accepted hallmark of a modern and civilised society being that it (the society) organises itsefl to look after and provide for the weakest of its members! And sadly, all the arguments have focussed on the stereotypical 'single,young mother who has child to get council flat'. What about the married couple with a young child - the 'traditional' family unit that is espoused as the 'highest' order of family unit in Western society? Are they less deserving than this guy? What about the same couple but this time they have a disbabled child? Given your attitude, I hope you never end up having to rely upon others for support, financial or otherwise. Or maybe your solution would be to vet people, including their income, job security, career prospects, potential criminality, genetic make-up, social status etc etc, before allowing them to 'breed'. Its people like you who make me sick - misanthropic (a big word, go look it up) knee-jerking narrow-minded bigots, one and all.
Are you a scrounger as well who worries when you learn of the growing resentment of those who subsidise your idol existence?
I think you really mean 'idle' rather than 'idol'. But then again, that's a university education and a very good career for you(thank you very much). And last time I looked Liz, for your information, my salary was around 5 times the national average - barely makes me a scrounger, does it now (and makes my tax bill probably much higher than what most people earn). And whilst we're on the subject, I've never claimed any sort of benefit in my life but recognise and agree that my taxes will be used to support those who are unable to support themselves - the underlying principle of the welfare state. Like Dave, I hope you never have to rely on the help of others - or would you prefer to be dragged into a field and shot, like some old mare, when your usefulness is deemed over or that you are judged by your peers to be a 'drain' or a scrounger. Got any black shirts to iron and jackboots to polish today?
Posted by: Family, In a Bedsit on 9:41pm Sat 10 May 08
I would seriously advise one of the many poor families who've had a bad run of luck and ended up in one of the city's grotty little B+B's or bedsits,to pester the Argus until they run a story called 'One man gets 2 bed house,while our family gets a squalid little bedsit!' ..Its only fair for them to do this isnt it?
Posted by: Mr & Mrs Right, Brighton on 11:47pm Sat 10 May 08
Typical. Kick the englishman out and the council will probably house the foreign scum that is plaging our sacred shores. Such as muslims poles and celts.
Posted by: rent-a-goose, BTON on 4:53pm Sun 11 May 08
Mr & Mrs Right wrote:
Typical. Kick the englishman out and the council will probably house the foreign scum that is plaging our sacred shores. Such as muslims poles and celts.
do i detect a hint of racism hidden amongst your cleverly chosen words ?

Posted by: FRED, worthing on 6:39pm Sun 11 May 08
Well,well,"dave hater"youve just got to be a Lib Dem. Good luck with the silly dreams.
Posted by: Dave Hater, Hove on 8:19pm Sun 11 May 08
FRED wrote:
Well,well,"dave hater"youve just got to be a Lib Dem. Good luck with the silly dreams.
So Fred, you think you can tell someone's political leanings just by reading 2 posts on a single subject? I can assure you that I'm neither so shallow nor so stupid as to affiliate myself to a party that has no hope, no policies nor any future. Have a good week.
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