Sleepless nights for brothers separated after 55 years

"It's been weird and horrible because we should still be together in that house, but we've been separated and the two things I love have been taken away," said Steven Marshall.

On 13 August the 67-year-old was evicted from the house in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, that he shared with his brother Darren for 55 years after housing association Havebury Homes took the property back.

West Suffolk Council previously told the BBC it would "not force any household to separate", but Steven was moved into temporary accommodation and Darren, 55, was left homeless.

The brothers said they have both endured sleepless nights in unfamiliar environments and long to live together again.

"Me and Darren would keep ourselves to ourselves and never said too much to each other, but we were there together to help each other and so it doesn't feel right," said Steven.

"It's been very stressful and worrying and it's sort of changed my life in a way, and the council have gone against their word."

After the brothers were evicted from their home on Springfield Avenue, Steven, who is considered to be vulnerable, was moved into a house in multiple occupation - a property comprised of some communal areas and three or more tenants.

Despite his initial reservations, Steven said "the people are OK, it's fairly well run and it's clean", but he hoped he was not "going to be there forever".

"It's just a basic room, with a chest of drawers, a shower, a toilet and a bed, there is no wardrobe or TV, and we share a kitchen," he said.

"No disrespect to the place itself or the people there, but it's a big come down and you think, 'Christ, what have I done to deserve this?', and then you wonder what the future will hold."

The brothers' parents moved them, as well as their other brother, into the property in 1970, when Darren was two months old.

After their dad died from cancer in 2017, the tenancy agreement was passed to their mum – something that can be done only once under succession laws.

When she died in 2023, Havebury Homes allowed the brothers to remain at the property without a formal tenancy agreement in place.

But in March the brothers were taken to court over the repossession of the house, with the judge ruling in favour of Havebury Homes.

On the day of the eviction, Steven was driven off by two council workers, who did not tell Darren where they were taking him, and Darren was left to fend for himself.

Due to having what the council deemed to be sufficient savings, Darren was reportedly not offered temporary accommodation and has been sleeping at a friend's house.

"It's like being forced over the top of the trenches into no man's land without anything to defend yourself - we are both in no man's land and it feels terrible," he said.

"I miss that feeling of being at home and feeling that security and that safety – it is just like that safety net has been taken away from us and we're being kicked around like a football.

"I'd much rather be in my own bed and in my room and I have only got to shut my eyes and I'm there again, so I've had a few sleepless nights and sleepless moments."

Darren hoped in the near future he may be able to purchase or rent a property, but it would not be big enough for him and his brother.

Until then he has been returning to the property during two-hour slots to collect his and brother's belongings and move them into storage.

"Going back home, sort of dipping the toe back in, seeing the old place, it's quite painful because you just want to get back to normal life again, but you can't," said Darren.

Havebury Homes would not tell the BBC why it had evicted the brothers but said it would continue to “work closely with West Suffolk Council to provide support where we can, including in relation to housing need”.

“As a social landlord, we have a responsibility to make sure our homes are allocated fairly and in line with our Allocations Policy, so they are available to those with the greatest housing need,” a spokesperson said.

Richard O'Driscoll, the cabinet member for housing at West Suffolk Council, said: "Unfortunately, despite talking to the press the brothers have not given West Suffolk Council permission to talk about their case which means we cannot explain what help and support we have offered, their response to this or the facts of the case.

"If a household is evicted, we either support the tenant through a period of homelessness such as through temporary accommodation or advise them if private rent housing is more suitable to their means and assist them with the latter if this is their choice.

"While we advise members of a household on their options, we do not force any household to separate."

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