Eyers family from Gillingham evicted by council over takeaways and offered home in Tyne and Wear
17:00, 11 July 2019
updated: 11:42, 12 July 2019
A family has been made homeless by the council for “ordering takeaways instead of paying their rent”.
Daniel Eyers and his family, including his four children and eight-month pregnant partner, were evicted by Medway Council from their temporary accommodation in Gillingham Road on Monday last week.
The 32-year-old says officers told him his family made themselves “intentionally homeless” by failing to pay their rent.
Instead they spent their money on takeaways from JustEat, including a £45 meal for his son’s birthday in May.
Mr Eyers, whose favourite treat is an Indian or Chinese, admitted he sometimes makes a late payment, but “always pays the money that’s owed”.
He said: “We like to treat the children once a week to a takeaway. They don’t usually get much, so it’s a nice treat.
“It was my son’s birthday the other month and we spent £45 but were told by the council we were spending money on non-essentials rather than paying rent.”
Mr Eyers, and his partner Lucrezia Worrell, 27, who is a few weeks away from giving birth, can spend between £25 to £40 a week on takeaways.
They were living in Keyes Avenue, Chatham, until April when they left following a section 21 notice they received last June, meaning their landlord wanted to end the tenancy.
They have been in emergency accommodation in Gillingham since but were recently told by the council their case for housing in Medway was being reviewed.
Mr Eyers and his partner had to send over their bank statements where the JustEat payments were uncovered.
The father-of-four has a five-year-old, a four-year-old and a pair of two-year-old twins.
He says he’s been offered a house in Tyne and Wear by the early help team, but wants to stay in Medway.
Mr Eyers said: “I’ve been a Medway resident for a while. It was hard enough being moved from Chatham to Gillingham as my children go to school in Chatham.
“I couldn’t get a job as it meant my children would miss out on school, as I have to drive them there everyday.”
Mark Breathwick, head of strategic housing at Medway Council, said support was provided to Mr Eyers before he was evicted and the council has continued to help him since.
He added: “Emergency accommodation is provided to people where appropriate.”
Bailiffs turned up at the house on Monday while Mr Eyers and Miss Worrell were on the school run. The family of six are staying at Mr Eyers’ mother’s home and have no idea where to go next.
