A former Brent Council worker faces the threat of eviction despite claims that he was promised “housing for life”. The local authority has said that the man no longer meets the criteria following changes to housing policies.
John Card, an elderly army veteran who worked as a caretaker at Kingsbury Primary School for 28 years, is facing eviction by his former employer and landlord even though his contract appears to have promised him a home for life.
Mr Card claims that his contract stated that he would be provided with a house as a condition of his employment but the school are now refusing to maintain the property. His union has said he is now living with serious repair issues, including a rat infestation, and the move is “an attempt to force him out of his home”.
The General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union (GMB) allege that Mr Card’s contract guarantees that he would be rehoused in the event of having to leave the property. Brent Council has said that its policy has since changed and, rather than be rehomed, he should present as homeless.
Mr Card said : “I served Brent locally for decades as both an employee and a tenant. I would never have signed my contract if I thought there was a risk I wouldn’t be rehoused. All I’m asking the council to do is honour the contract I signed.”
The union claims Mr Card was “never notified of any changes” and has “repeatedly tried to resolve the issue” – including writing to the Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt – but claims the council “has refused to meaningfully engage”.
GMB Senior Organiser, Lisa Bangs, said: “Mr Card’s contract with Brent promised him housing for life. He was a loyal and hardworking caretaker and it’s unacceptable for the council to go back on the original commitment to house him.
“Not only is this eviction a disgraceful way to treat a man who worked on behalf of the borough for decades, but the tactics being deployed to push him out of his home are dehumanising in allowing it to fall into disrepair. This needs to stop now.”
The local authority has confirmed that Mr Card was advised to make a homeless application, which it described as “standard practice” when someone is threatened with homelessness so their circumstances can be fully assessed.
Mr Card approached the homelessness service and was seen in May of last year but the council said its records show that there has been no further contact following his assessment and advice. The local authority claims that Cllr Butt wrote to GMB Union last year to confirm that Mr Card’s contract and housing position “had been carefully reviewed”.
A Brent Council spokesperson said: “Mr Card’s contract, signed in 1996, provided for rehousing in accordance with the council’s housing policy in force at that time. As with all local authority policies, housing policies are regularly reviewed and updated. The council’s current housing policy stipulates that priority rehousing for former service tenants applies to employees who had qualifying service prior to August 1990. As Mr Card’s contract was signed in 1996, he does not meet this criterion.
“Discretion was carefully considered but could not be applied due to the length of time between the qualifying period and the start of Mr Card’s contract. Mr Card was supported by the council to make a homelessness application so that his circumstances could be fully assessed. He was seen by the homelessness service in May 2025 and advised to access the appropriate service for his household circumstances. There has been no further contact since that advice was provided.
“The council remains committed to working constructively with GMB Union to ensure Mr Card receives appropriate advice and assistance and to support him in securing suitable accommodation.”
