School caretaker whose home came with his job faces eviction after more than 30 years service

[dutchman]

Kevin McDonagh, 65, says he was promised Coventry City Council would find him a new home if he ever left his job



A school caretaker who has worked for Coventry City Council for more than 30 years faces the 'stressful' prospect of being made homeless days before he is due to retire. Kevin McDonagh, 65, first moved to his home in Newcombe Road three decades ago.

Kevin's home is tied to his employment at Earlsdon Primary School, but he says he was told that if he ever did leave his job, he'd be found alternative accommodation in a council house.

Speaking to CoventryLive, Kevin said: "I am a caretaker and the house came with the job. Back in 1993, I was given a tenancy agreement and told to sign up for council housing. It said if I ever did leave the council would give me a house."

Just days before he is due to retire on Thursday, June 2, the 65-year-old, says the local council has now requested that he and his three sons leave the property. Kevin claims that as the years have rolled by, the local authority has failed to honour the original tenancy agreement and instead 'want me out'.

Coventry City Council says that Kevin's home is linked to his job, which he accepts. But it also says it is not a 'social housing landlord' and is not responsible for finding him a new home. Neither Kevin or the council still have a copy of the agreement he signed when he started work 19 years ago, but he maintains it was in put place and is 'flabbergasted' the local authority is not willing to honour it.

He added: "And they are not willing to offer me the house to buy, they are not willing to let me rent the house, no alternatives."

Kevin says the situation is causing him undue stress as he already has to battle several health conditions. Struggling with COPD, chronic back pain and severe nerve damage, Kevin says the entire situation is making him feel 'even worse.'

"I am under that much medication it is unbelievable, you know painkillers and things like that, and the stress is making me even worse. It is making me ill. It is really making me uptight. It is really rattling me", Kevin said.

His sons will also be left without a home and are said to be 'totally perplexed' by the situation. As the eviction date looms, Kevin is becoming increasingly 'worried' as he says he has 'not got any plans' for alternative accommodation.

Kevin has also criticised the way the council has dealt with the situation, saying: "Coventry City Council have not been in touch at all. What they have done is sent the headteacher an email asking when I am handing the keys back to the house so they can come and collect them from the school."

But the 65-year-old says he 'does not care' about the council pushing for him to leave and has refused to vacate the property until he 'finds somewhere else' to live. He adamantly said: "If I have to squat, I will squat."

Kevin, who worked for the council for three years before taking his current job, added: "It feels like the council are brushing me under the carpet, they are washing their hands of me. I am absolutely flabbergasted that I have done 32 years of service for the council and this is how they treat somebody."