A FAMILY say they fear losing their former home as Powys council is refusing to allow it to be exchanged for another council property.

Veronica Workman, who lives at Gypsy Castle in Hay-on-Wye, wants to exchange her council property for her late father’s on the same estate.

But the county council has said it is unable to agree to her request to move into what had ben the family home for 40 years.

Mrs Workman has a tenancy with the council but wants to exchange it for the nearby house where her father, Jim Jones, lived until his death last October.

Mrs Workman, who is 62, and her sister Carole Jenkins, 57, of Brecon Road, Hay, say the family has invested in the home and adaptations made for their late parents will also be required by Mrs Workman who suffers similar mobility problems.

Cleaner Mrs Workman said she had initially inquired about transferring her tenancy before her father’s death and asked again after he died.

"I had asked before he died would it be possible for me to transfer the tenancy but I’d not had much of a response until I was told to go on a transfer list" said Mrs Workman who said she has since learned her name was removed from the list due to a change in policy.

"When I went to register dad’s death I happened to mention transferring the tenancy then, but I was told no."

Mrs Workman said she has since made a number of requests to the council and has been supported by Hay’s county councillor Gareth Ratcliffe.

Veronica, who shares her home with her adult son and his partner, said though both properties are listed as three bed rooms her current home has an extra downstairs room that can be used as a bedroom.

The house she wants to leave also has a significantly bigger garden and has off road parking spaces. It is set back from the main road, unlike her late father’s house, which the family is still paying rent on.

Mrs Workman, who raised her two children at her parents’ house, said: "There are lots of sentimental reasons but they don’t really come into it.

"It would be easier for me to run that house, it has a stair lift which I’m going to end up needing to use. It was put in for my mum.

"The council could have had my house in November. I thought I would have moved in for Christmas."

Sister Carole said her parents’ home is important to all the family: "Even the grandkids call this home, they were brought up here as well and I’ve planted all the daffodils in the garden. Sunday afternoons the garden was always full."

The sisters also claim the council told them although its policy doesn’t allow Mrs Workman to transfer her tenancy the council would have agreed to the swap if Mrs Jenkins also agreed to give up her council tenancy.

Cllr Ratcliffe said the council should be flexible in applying its policy and should use common sense.

He said: "It has been the family home for 42 years and the family have been brought up there.

"The council is applying the letter of the policy but not using common sense, they can see what is on the table is a better offer and it would have a better property to let out. It is a larger three bed property, there is parking here but no parking at their dad’s house. The house has been adapted and the doctors have identified Veronica will need to be supported at home in the future."

Mrs Workman said she didn’t believe her father and mother Marion, who died in 2008, had ever been able to afford to buy their home under the right to buy scheme.

Cllr Ratcliffe added: "Jim was a traditional man who worked to keep his family and believed the council was there to support that. That is how he was and how he used to come across to me."

Council leader Barry Thomas said it couldn’t comment on individual details regarding Mrs Workman’s request but said the council allocates properties in line with its policy.

Cllr Thomas said: "The council is required by law to allocate vacant properties in accordance with an allocation policy agreed by the council.

"The policy must give reasonable preference and additional preference to certain specified categories of applicants (those who are in housing need).

"Current tenants are able to swap homes, with their landlord’s consent, a process known as mutual exchange and the council actively promotes this form of movement via the Homeswapper and Swap and Move websites.

"The council has reviewed and reconsidered its original decision a number of times and is unfortunately unable to agree to Mrs Workman’s request, as it is not permitted by the allocation scheme."