A MUM of three who cares for her cancer-stricken father is having to sleep in her living room with two of her daughters.

Tanya Peacock has been battling with housing bosses for over two years desperately trying to get a bigger property.

She thought that the fact she is overcrowded and has vulnerable adults in her care would mean the family would be rehomed.

But Tanya, of Bardrainney Avenue, has been unsuccessful in obtaining a new property through the Inverclyde Common Housing Register (ICHR).

Five adults, including Tanya's father Arthur, who is also blind and has COPD, currently live in the two bedroom property.

It means that she and her daughters, who are 20 and 15, use the living room as a shared bedroom.

Greenock Telegraph:

Tanya's youngest daughter Karla also suffers with mental health issues as a result of being badly burned in a fire when she was younger, while her son, 17-year-old Callum, is autistic.

The 37-year-old mum-of-three says that she wants to 'pull her hair out' with frustration and feels like she is letting her family down.

She told the Tele: "I moved to this property five years ago as I had to get out of my Dubbs Road home as there were rats and people were setting fires.

"I couldn't put my family through that, my daughter Karla was petrified as she suffered second and third degree burns after a horrific accident with a candle when she was younger.

"I moved here to escape that.

"I was told I should put my dad in sheltered housing, but I'm his carer and need to be here to take him to hospital and make sure he is okay.

"He's only 59 so there is still hope he'll recover to have some sort of decent life, but he won't if I am not here to help him."

Tanya says the living situation is also taking a heavy toll on her children too.

She told the Tele: "My daughter Katlyn is studying at college while Callum is doing his Highers, so it isn't fair on them.

"My dad has one bedroom, as I couldn't have him on the couch with his condition, while Callum has the other as with his autism diagnosis he needs his own space.

"The girls and I sleep in the living room and it's been even worse lately with the lockdown - nobody has anywhere to go if they want time on their own."

Tanya claims that she has been denied larger properties numerous times despite having the appropriate 'points' that the ICHR use to determine need.

She said: "I should get overcrowding points and also medical points, but for some reason they aren't both recognised at the same time.

"I've been bidding since 2018 when my dad moved in and some weeks I've been second on the list, while others I've been 20th.

"I know there aren't many four bedroom houses, but I can't even seem to get a three bedroom home.

"I enquired about a house that was lying empty up at Oronsay Avenue and next thing I knew someone had moved in and it hadn't even been online for anyone to bid on.

"There's no rhyme nor reason to it.

"I don't know what else I'm expected to do."

Tanya says she has exhausted all options, speaking to housing bosses, local councillors and the area's MP and MSP.

She added: "The bidding system is a joke and we can't go on like this for much longer - but nobody seems to care."

The Telegraph contacted ICHR who said they were unable to speak about Tanya's case specifically.

A spokesperson said: "I can confirm that there are a number of households in the Inverclyde area who have been awarded significant points to reflect their family’s current housing situation.

"The priority given to applicants is determined by the Joint Allocations Policy; this policy was devised following consultation with tenants and applicants and reflects current legislation and good practice.

"We are fully aware of the situation many applicants find themselves in and there is high demand for larger and adapted properties as demonstrated by the number of applicants on our list.

"This therefore means that we are unable to meet the needs of all applicants on the housing register.

"We operate a choice-based lettings system, and I would encourage anyone seeking housing to continue checking our website, and those of other local housing providers, on a weekly basis to see what is available."