Family leaves retirement home after two-year eviction battle

Summarised from Daily Mail's report · Updated 22 Oct, 06:14 · Archive

A man, his wife and twin daughters have left a retirement home in Reading after a two-year legal dispute over their occupancy.

Shahidul Haque, 59, has left the one-bedroom flat at David Smith Court in Reading where he had lived since July 2024 with his 28-year-old wife and twin three-year-old daughters. The accommodation was designated for over-55s and intended for single occupancy, making the family's presence a breach of the terms.

Southern Housing pursued eviction proceedings, but Mr Haque resisted, claiming that forcing his family out would violate his rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. He also argued he could not understand the original tenancy agreement because it was not written in Sylheti, his native language, despite having lived in the UK since 1997.

The family has now agreed to leave under an out-of-court settlement. Neighbours reported the situation had caused considerable disturbance, with one 63-year-old resident saying the family made his life 'a living hell' with constant noise, with children 'banging about, shouting and screaming' from 10am until 1am most nights.

Read the report

• The Bangladeshi migrant who moved into a retirement home: Residents celebrate as man, his 28-year-old wife and twin daughters leave after 'making our lives hell' for two yearsBangladeshi Shahidul Haque, 59, moved his 28-year-old wife and twin three-year-old daughters into the flat in Reading in July 2024 despite it being designated for over-55s.Daily Mail · 22 Oct, 00:06

In this story: Shahidul Haque · Southern Housing · Reading · David Smith Court

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