A terminally ill woman who is being evicted from her home fears frequent viewings arranged by estate agents could put her at risk.
Rachel Binney was handed an eviction note on June 28 as her landlord plans to sell the property in Newquay, Cornwall.
The woman was given maximum four months to find a new home, but she said the situation has become difficult due to her health problems and the fact that multiple times a week there are people visiting her home to look at it.
Ms Binney was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2017, but after having two unsuccessful bouts of chemotherapy, the cancer spread to her lungs and liver, Cornwall Live reports.
As she often experiences problems with her muscles, joints and severe discomfort, she barely leaves the house.
Ms Binney said: “My landlord said he was selling up because he wasn’t well.
“It was a really bad time to do it, for me. He said he was doing me a favour by giving me four months.
“I agreed to viewings because I thought it would be a few here and there. The day after I agreed, I was handed the notice in person and I realised I had four months to sort out everything I have, everything I need to get rid of, and to find a new place.
“I knew I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere.”
She told Cornwall Live she feels uncomfortable when estate agents visit the home because she is so ill that she cannot get out of the property during the viewing.
She said: “They last for about 20 to 30 minutes and I’ve been really sick poorly recently. I tried explaining to the agents that I’m really ill, and can’t go out and sit in the garden.
“I just can’t sit on a garden chair. They don’t get it, I can’t even take sitting on a sofa without adding extra cushions at this point.
“I have been in extreme pain. I’m so skinny anything is uncomfortable. And the agents just did not get it.”
Ms Binney recalled one recent incident where she returned home with a family member to see an estate agent blocking the door.
The agent, she said, did not let her enter despite her explaining that she was, as she frequently is, in incredible pain and very ill.
“I just don’t need this,” Ms Binney added, explaining she also feared catching Covid because of the viewings. “He just had some unmarked spray bottle which did not reassure me. If I catch Covid, my cancer is in my lungs - it’ll kill me.”
She is now experiencing stress not only because of the viewings, but also as she has to find a new place to rent as soon as possible.
Ms Binney said: "I spoke to Cornwall Council and they’re trying to do a referral to help with housing.
“It’s just - I feel now I haven’t got hope. Honest to God, I have not got the energy to do anything. All I can do is sit around and watch stuff. I don’t want to be hassled. The stress goes straight to my back.”
She added that she fears for other people who might experience the same and that the estate agents are not listening to her concerns.
