A woman has to move from her council home of more than 20 years after triggering the end of her tenancy by asking for disability adaptations for her new partner.

Grandmother-of-nine Michelle Proud, 52, has lived in a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Burgoyne Road, Thornhill since 2002 - with her children growing up in the home.

Her new partner Shawn Peters, 50, lives with her but an occupational therapist says he needs a stairlift and walk-in shower as he suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTs).

The condition leaves him completely breathless if he walks more than six feet.

But when Michelle called up the council to request adaptations, she was told there were rent arrears of £3,900 on the tenancy agreement she shares with her ex-husband.

The council said Michelle could not remove her ex and add dad-of-five Shawn until the arrears were paid off, claims grandfather-of-four Shawn.

He paid the cash but the city council has now said they must move out in four months and can bid to live in a one-bed flat.

Michelle said: “I can’t see how the council can throw us out like this – this has been my home for more than 20 years.

"We will have to turn to family or we will be on the streets."

The couple were told just after Christmas the couple they had four months to bid on a one-bedroom flat.

Shawn said it 'feels like they have played us for fools'.

He added: “This just feels to me like the council don’t want to pay for the facilities that I need and so have decided to throw us out.

“I used to be a coach driver and loved my job – I don’t want to be ill, but I have no choice. Now the council want to force us out of our home - it feels like discrimination against the disabled.

“I paid that £4,000 thinking it was for us to keep our home. I could have used that money for my health.

“We both have children, grandchildren and four dogs – we wouldn’t be able to have that in a one-bedroom flat.”

With regards to the couple’s claims, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: “Regretfully when one party to a joint tenancy serves notice to ends a tenancy; this ends the tenancy for both parties; this is a matter of housing law not a decision made by the council.

“Southampton City Council has a duty to make best use of available housing stock due to an acute housing shortage in Southampton, especially for three-bedroom accommodation.

“The Council must consider the needs of the remaining household members left in occupation when a tenancy is terminated in this manner."