Rhiannon Ingle
A family have called out a local council's lack of 'sensitivity' after a paralysed grandad was asked to blink to confirm the end of his tenancy.
Peter Badger was unable to verbally end his £350 per month tenancy after he was left paralysed from the neck down having suffered two brain bleeds.
The 64-year-old's daughters tried to cancel the tenancy to ensure their father was no longer paying rent for a property he didn't even live in, but were told by the council that it needed to come directly from their father - who couldn't speak.
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Peter suffered his first aneurysm on last year (9 October) after experiencing severe headaches and vomiting while attending a Peter Kay show at Wembley, London.
Although he showed initial signs of recovery, a second aneurysm 10 days later led to paralysis on his right side and breathing difficulties, requiring intubation.
By the end of October, shunt surgery resulted in full paralysis from the neck down.
His daughter applied for power of attorney a few months later January to manage her father’s finances and end his tenancy at his council home in Millbrook, Southampton, but the process has been slow.
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Then, in June, Peter was moved from a council flat to a nursing home in Romsey.
Lara, Peter's eldest daughter, phoned the local authority to explain her dad's situation and it was suggested to her that he should 'blink' to end the tenancy.
The 40-year-old said 'that's not happening' while her sister, Amber, 32, branded the request as 'so disrespectful' and said: "I get that’s the law and they needed to hear it from [him], but he can’t speak.
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"There was no sensitivity. Thankfully the care home said no straight away."
Eventually, Mr Badger agreed to the test as he 'just wanted it over and done with'.
The 'blink test' was never actually carried out as the council confirmed the end of tenancy following complaints from the family.
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"They haven't treated Dad or us like humans, and it's made an incredibly traumatic situation so much worse," Amber explained.
Now, the council have confirmed the tenancy for the flat will be terminated.
Amber added: "I am super happy this has finally ended. I am so pleased for Dad that we will be able to move forward to build a life for dad in the care home.
"However, it shouldn't have had to come to this. What if dad didn't have us?"
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A spokesperson for Southampton City Council told Tyla: "Southampton City Council was first made aware Mr Badger was not living in Brendon Green in July and had moved into a care home and wanted to end his tenancy.
"We apologise for the delay in reviewing this request, and we will be reviewing our procedures.
"We will work with Mr Badger and his family to move the situation forward and apologise for any distress caused."