A Rainham homeowner is among nearly 60 people who have not been given their properties back by Havering Council, it has been revealed.

Wayne Morrison, 54, leased his Avalon Road flat to the council more than two years ago.

The Romford-born man has owned his flat for almost 15 years but is now unable to rent or sell it after the council could not find alternative accommodation for its current tenants.

Wayne, who has been forced to live with his father-in-law in Kent, is far from the only one in this position.

A Freedom of Information request found 58 homeowners in Havering were still waiting for the return of their properties as of August 9.

The FOI, submitted by Wayne to the council, concerned homeowners such as himself who had rented out their properties under the local authority's rent scheme and had submitted three months notice.

"They've just left me," Wayne said, referring to the council. "It's a joke - all my friends at work laugh at me. I've got two properties but I can't live in one."

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Wayne has a second home in Gravesend, Kent, where he moved 19 years ago, but needs to sell his Rainham flat to fund works to make it liveable.

Wayne's Kent home remains unliveable as he cannot fund works while the council has his Rainham homeWayne's Kent home remains unliveable as he cannot fund works while the council has his Rainham home (Image: Wayne Morrison)

"I'm now living with my father-in-law [and wife] in a three-bed house, whereas my house [in Kent] can't be lived in.

"I've got no electric, no gas, and I need that money from my property [in Rainham] to live."

Wayne, who was told today that the council was "in the process" of moving the tenants, claimed his calls have been repeatedly ignored by the local authority.

He said he started contact with Havering Council in April 2022 to get his flat back and despite issuing three months notice to vacate twice - first in August 2022, the second time in March 2024, Wayne remains unable to access his flat.

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A council spokesperson said it was working to find a solution.

"We sympathise with Mr Morrison and share his frustration at this unsatisfactory situation.

"To date, we have not been able to place the tenants in alternative accommodation," they said last Monday (August 21).

"We will continue to work with him and the tenants at his property to reach a satisfactory outcome for all involved as quickly as possible."

When asked how important it was to have his flat back, Wayne said: "I could get my life back - I'd get my house back and then I could start living there."

Wayne questioned why, after more than two years since raising the issue, it had taken so long.

"If the council had a problem with giving properties back, then they've should've messaged me to let me know about the delay," he said.

"I assumed Havering Council had just forgotten about my request."

A council spokesperson attributed a hike in mortgage rates "brought about" by the former government's policies.

They said this had influenced owners to leave the private sector leasing scheme, adding pressure to the housing crisis.

"Demand for homes is far outstripping the current supply across the UK," the spokesperson added.