AN Exmoor pensioner is facing eviction from her rural home next week after a four-year dispute with Magna Housing over her weekly rent payments.

The housing association has a Taunton County Court hearing scheduled for Wednesday (September 9) asking a judge to issue a possession order against Shirley Fountain, aged 78, of Pound Close, Brushford.

Mrs Fountain has been refusing to meet the ‘sheltered’ element of rent for her bungalow because she said she did not need the service, and it was not really available if she did.

She has previously complained of cold and damp conditions in the property which meant she had to move to live with her daughter just to stay warm during the coldest two months of every winter, when the Exmoor temperature frequently could drop to minus 10 degrees.

Mrs Fountain said the property’s night storage heating system was too expensive to run, and it did not work properly, leaving her with bills of up to £400 a quarter when they were used and a home which became cold by the afternoon.

Now, matters have come to a head with the court action, with solicitors appointed to represent Mrs Fountain through the Citizen Advice service.

Mrs Fountain told the Free Press she felt Magna had been harassing her because ‘they just want me out’ of the sheltered bungalow where she has lived since 2018.

She said: “They do not have any heart, all they want is money, money, money, they do not care about your wellbeing.

“I have felt suicidal, I have had enough of them.

“They have been sending me threatening letters saying if I pay the bill they will drop the court case, which I think is blackmail.

“The doctor is vey concerned about my mental health, I am ill from worry.

“It is the worst house I have lived in since 1966 and they are the worst landlord I have had since 1966.”

A Magna spokesperson told the Free Press: “We take the wellbeing of all our customers very seriously and we are sorry to hear of the distress Ms Fountain describes.

“We have worked with Ms Fountain over several years and have made repeated efforts to provide support and advice, including signposting to financial assistance and specialist support services.

“We remain willing to work with her and encourage her to engage with us so we can discuss any concerns and identify appropriate support.

“The court hearing relates to unpaid tenancy charges that form part of the tenancy agreement for all customers in the type of sheltered accommodation where Ms Fountain lives.

“Legal action is always a last resort and is only considered after extensive efforts have been made to resolve matters and agree a way forward.

“We have also investigated concerns raised about the property by Ms Fountain and have carried out surveys and follow-up work where required.

“We remain committed to maintaining safe, decent homes and will continue to engage constructively with Ms Fountain regarding any ongoing housing concerns.”