TIDY AGNES GETS HER JUST DESERTS

Jun 28 2009 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

A HOUSING association’s incentive scheme for tenants to leave their property clean and tidy is under my spotlight today.

Agnes Bell expected to get £100 from Your Homes Newcastle after moving out of her council house. At 91, she had left the property in a clean and tidy condition.

But officials said she was not entitled to the payment – because she had not decorated before leaving to go into a home.

Her son Geoff told me: “No one could have done more than my mum to leave the house clean and tidy.

“That’s all she was expected to do, that’s all in the leaflets explaining the scheme, and she left the place immaculate.

“When I asked about the payment I was told she did not qualify.

“I asked why and was told the place could do with a coat of emulsion.” Geoff said there was nothing in the regulations saying the house had to be decorated.

So he stood his ground and bosses admitted they were wrong. He asked for my help because his mother had still not received the payment.

A spokesman for the council said: “We understand there was some initial confusion about whether Mrs Bell was entitled to payment due to the decorative order of the property.

“This matter was resolved within a few hours and Mr Bell will receive a cheque within the next two weeks.”

Under the scheme YHN give £150 to tenants with a garden and £100 to tenants without a garden.

The only exception is where the property is being bought under the Right to Buy scheme or if there is a mutual exchange.