A GRIEVING daughter has hit out at a Galashiels sheltered housing complex over its “wrong and insensitive” policy for vacating properties when a resident dies.

Caroline Graham believes the seven rent-free days bereaved families are given to clear the accommodation and return the keys after the death of a tenant are not enough.

Her father, retired businessman Dave McEwen passed away on Saturday, July 15, at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh from complications following back surgery.

His funeral is due to take place at the Borders Crematorium today (Wednesday).

The 71-year-old, who also suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, had been a tenant at Oakwood Park – a 19-flat Eildon Housing Association sheltered housing complex in Galashiels – for the past two years.

Mrs Graham was at his bedside when he died and described her loss as “devastating”.

“My husband and I have taken care of dad since he moved into Oakwood and our lives have revolved around him completely,” she told the Border Telegraph.

“I did nothing but cry for two days after he died and on the Monday, having had no sleep, I reluctantly went to his flat to look for his insurance documents.

“The staff at Oakwood are lovely and one of them told me to take my time in the flat as she thought we would have a few weeks to get things sorted.

“She returned half an hour later and apologetically told me she had made a mistake and we only had one week from day of death to clear the flat and return the keys.

“I was told we were not being put out but if we kept the keys longer than a week we would have to pay £14.50 a day until we were finished. I was also told that Eildon would be advertising the vacancy this Monday – two days before the funeral.

“My dad was so happy at Oakwood and made so many friends, some of whom are too frail to come to the funeral, so we’ve arranged a wee memorial service for him in the Oakwood lounge before we head to the crematorium.

“I had visions of people viewing his flat with the hearse outside the building and it really upset me.

“To my mind, Eildon’s policy is wrong. I understand it is a business which must make money, but it would not bankrupt them to allow a family, overwhelmed with grief, to at least lay their loved ones to rest before asking them to rip their homes apart.

“I have found it heartbreaking, especially when I still have the funeral to get through.

“I believe all housing associations should give you at least a couple of weeks after a death to let people come to terms with their loss first.”

Amanda Miller, Eildon’s director of housing and care services, cited the association’s management policy relating to the death of a tenant: “In the event of the death of a tenant where there is no succession to the tenancy, the association will work sensitively with any family/next of kin/social work staff to end the tenancy in an effective way. 

“The tenancy legally ends with the death of the tenant and generally keys would be expected to be returned within one week [seven days].”

With regard to Mrs Graham’s case, Ms Miller told us: “Our local staff have been advising her on arrangements should the family require more than seven days. This includes practical advice on clearing out the property as well as confirmation of the £14.50 daily charge.

“Mrs Graham has confirmed that our staff have been supportive and sensitive in the handling of this matter, which is reassuring.

“Normally, when a tenancy ends, the outgoing tenants will provide us with four weeks’ notice. This is usually sufficient time to advertise the vacancy…as well as carry out repair works needed before a new tenant can move in.

“Clearly, when a tenant passes we do not have the same period as the tenancy legally ends on the same day the tenant dies.

“We make assumptions around how many tenancies will change in a year and factor assumptions about the level of rent-free periods in the same year. To increase this would impact on our costs and, ultimately, on the rents of all our tenants.

“We have adopted the seven-day rent free policy as we believe it offers a balance between being sensitive about the recent loss of a family and meeting our needs to fund ongoing costs and services relating to the property, solely funded through rent charges.

“A number of other housing organisations do not apply any rent-free periods after the death of a tenant, so I feel we strike a balance with our current approach.

“On the matter of advertising 3 Oakwood Park [Mr McEwen’s flat], I have advised Mrs Graham this will be held back until after her father’s funeral on the week commencing July 31.”

Mrs Graham said she appreciated the delay in advertising the vacant flat and that the family had started paying the £14.50 charge from Monday of this week.

“This is not about money, but about a policy which is wrong and insensitive,” she told us.

“No-one should have to go through a loved one’s belongings or clear their homes before they have even laid them to rest.”