Photos show happy mum at Reading home son faces eviction at

Gary Brookin, 63, has lived in Vale Crescent, Tilehurst, for all of his life but now faces having to leave.

The problem he faces is that the home is owned by Reading Borough Council, which is seeking to rehome him following the death of his mother.

Mr Brookin has been left devastated at the prospect of leaving the home he shared with his mother, and has shared photos of his mum Gladys Eileen Mary Brookin who died in January.

Photos show Mrs Brooking standing proudly outside the family home in Vale Crescent and enjoying the garden, and also shared a photo of his mum on holiday at a water park.

Gladys Brookin on holiday at a water park. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Gladys was a widow for nearly 30 years after her husband Leslie Aylwin Brookin died in 1993.

Mr Brookin said: “I was her carer for 13 years, from 2009 till when she went into hospital on Boxing Day.

“That was the last time I saw her.”

READ MORE: Grieving man will be kicked out of his home just three months after his mum died

Their home has two bedrooms, with the council seeking to move Mr Brookin out into a one-bedroom property.

A council spokesperson initially said Mr Brookin would be unable to inherit the tenancy, and would therefore have to find somewhere else to live.

So far, he has looked at a bungalow in Wheeble Drive, Woodley, with the help of Christian charity CommuniCare.

Mr Brookin said: “I don’t want to leave, I’ve been here so long, it will hurt me.”

He added: “I was born in Dellwood Hospital and I’ve only lived here since then.”

Mr Brookin was meant to meet with a representative of CommuniCare on Thursday, April 27, but the meeting fell through.

Gladys Brookin stands proudly outside her council home in Vale Crescent, Tilehurst. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

In a statement, a Reading Borough Council spokesperson said: "The has given Mr Brookin high priority on the housing register for a move to a 1-bedroom property. He has been advised that he has no legal right to remain in the property, in keeping with the current legislation, but we are not asking him to leave it until an alternative is found.

"With over 3,000 families waiting for accommodation in Reading, it isn’t possible to allow people with no legal right to a property to remain in one that is larger than they require.

"The Council has a statutory responsibility to manage all the need in the borough by making best use of the homes that become available.

"We are working with Mr Brookin to resolve this situation with him as swiftly as possible, to ensure the best use of our housing stock to benefit as many people waiting for housing as possible."