Anger as lottery winner stays in council home despite large win
A LOTTERY winner who could afford to buy several homes is living in a Stroud council house.
The tenant, who got lucky on the lotto, is said to have won a "significant" sum but, because of council rules, cannot be told to leave the social housing.
It comes as more than 3,200 people are on the waiting list in the Stroud area.
Stroud District council tenant Margaret Marshall said she thought it was vastly unfair and that the lottery winner should move on
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"I think that's fair. If I won then I'd go, because other people need homes," said Mrs Marshall, who has lived at her address in Nailsworth for over 30 years. "Otherwise, I might buy it, then they could build another with the money," she said.
The revelation of the winner's decision to stay in their home came at Stroud District Council's housing advisory panel.
"We had someone who won on the lottery a large, significant sum," the council's housing advice manager Sue Leighton-Boyce told the meeting at Ebley Mill. "They are still our tenant although they clearly had enough money to go out and buy several homes."
Councillors were discussing a review of their council homes allocation policy after a Government consultation suggested ending lifetime tenancies.
A further suggestion was that households with a gross income above £60,000 shouldn't qualify for social housing.
The Government's Localism Act has given local authorities the ability to choose renewable tenancies instead.
"We have had another lady who married a very nicely-off gentleman," said Ms Leighton-Boyce. "They chose to live in their council house but he has another property, has a house abroad, a yacht abroad.
"Tenants were quite miffed about this and said why can't you do anything? Why are you still allowing them to live there?" she said.
"Under the current rules they have their tenancies for life," she said.
The council's rainbow political alliance are expected to decide about tenancy issues at their next executive on November 8.
Councillor Debbie Young (C, Chalford), former cabinet member for housing, said renewable five-year tenancies would allow these situations to be reviewed.
"This lottery guy has highlighted the issue that people don't have to give up their properties even when they don't need them," Mrs Young said.
"Surely this person's conscience should be pricked now?"
Stroud's other lottery winners include Bryan Crook and his partner, who in 2007 scooped almost £2.5million and opted for a new bungalow and a caravan. Another £1.6million win in 2005 was never claimed and given to charity.
* Do you know the Lottery winning tenants? If so email The Citizen: citizen.news@glosmedia.co.uk
Comments
by PengiPete
Thursday, October 25 2012, 5:03PM
“Why is TiG asking people to identify the person when that information is of absolutely no use other than to allow some miserable people to bully them - if they even exist - for doing nothing more than buying a winning lottery ticket?
Can this cheap rag sink any lower?
How about showing a little respect for the people of Gloucestershire and sticking to reporting FACTS and NEWS instead of trying to cause trouble with sensationalist garbage like this or by trying to belittle and embarrass local people who have done nothing wrong.
Stop trying to be "The Sun" and start treating your readers and the people in our county like human beings instead of just using them as fodder to sell more advertising space and line your pockets.”
by amy86
Thursday, October 25 2012, 5:03PM
“Its nice to see some other commenters showing some compassion!! All the other comments on this story yesterday were full of the "how selfish" and "not fair" brigade. Its nice to see some others who recognise that this could be someones home of 50 years, its not so simple to just up and leave!”
by bonzaharris1
Thursday, October 25 2012, 4:37PM
“While it may seem unfair that he is staying put, but it is home, he possibly gets on well with his neighbours, or has family living close by. They may well have spent quite a bit of time and money getting the house into order and to how they like it. This house to them is a home, not just a pile of bricks, and they are reluctant to leave, can't say I blame them. They could however do as geraint suggests, and apply to buy their home. Myself and Mr Bonza live in the stroud area, and up until we bought our home under the right to buy scheme, it was a council house. We had done quite a bit of work, french doors patio, bathroom improvements, all at our expense, but with the approval of SDC. To us it was our home, which have moulded to how we like, and we wanted to secure it. Too many authorities these days seem to want to de-humanise people, and just push them around, like draughts on board, they give no thought, or care as to how people actually feel about their home. Just think it is easy to up sticks and move away from all they know. Perhaps they would like to try it !!”
by cupcake60
Thursday, October 25 2012, 1:58PM
“I expect the person or persons will move eventually when they have time to think about things...”
by happydays32
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:53PM
“Its his house he pays the rent why should he have to move, to some people its more than just a home, leave the person alone!”
by geraint2010
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:16PM
“Presumably he could exercise his "right to buy" (on generous subsidised terms) which would cost the council much more money in the longer term than having him continue to pay full rent.”
by UK_Lotto_News
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:10PM
“Congratulations to the UK Lotto winner from Stroud and we hope you make best use of your winnings - did you know that 98% of lottery millionaires spend their money in the UK and contribute £750 million to the UK's GDP creating many jobs through investment in local start-up and existing businesses.
Let due process and common sense prevail with regards to the council homes allocation policy. If the tenant is no longer eligible to remain in the house then they should move, however consider how long that might take and anyone who has done it before moving house can be subject to many delays that are out of your control.
For results and UK Lotto news follow our blog http://tinyurl.com/cae99m9 and website http://tinyurl.com/c7x3g2d”
by thomas1996
Thursday, October 25 2012, 11:39AM
“There are a lot of jealous people about aren't there?”
by walrusman10
Thursday, October 25 2012, 11:30AM
“what does it matter if he has loads of money. if he is paying rent on the property what is there to worry about.”
by happysali
Thursday, October 25 2012, 9:55AM
“A house, whether rented or owned, isn't just a house - it's a home. Quite possibly the tenant is settled, and has built good relationships with the neighbours. Depending on when he/she won the money, the fact that he/she is now rich might not have sunk in yet. Perhaps the tenant is elderly and simply wants to live quietly in his/her current home.
I would like to have read that the tenant had been sympathetically approached, with a suggestion that he/she might like to purchase the house, or if the tenant doesn't want to own it, then perhaps he/she could be encouraged to make a donation to the council, to help another family.
'Giving up a property' makes it sound so easy. In reality, for a lot of people it would be anything but.”