A Hereford woman waiting over two years for a new house to meet the needs of her dying partner says she despairs of this happening in time.

Juliet Francis lives in the Redhill area of Hereford with partner Matthew Slack, who suffers from life-limiting conditions including pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis, leaving him with worsening breathing difficulties and declining mobility.

Their current social housing lacks a downstairs toilet or a suitable bath. A new house would also have to meet the needs of Ms Francis’ two autistic teenage daughters.

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“We just want to be settled, before I lose him,” Ms Francis said.

A council occupational therapist set out Mr Slack’s needs two years ago, putting the family on track for a new home with funding to adapt it – or so they thought.

They were offered a yet-to-be-completed property in Clehonger, within a new affordable housing development by Stonewater Housing, initially due to complete last summer.

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Despite delays, “we though it would be our home in time for Christmas”, Ms Francis said. “We even packed up the Christmas presents.”

Some of their possessions were put into commercial storage, others stored in a bedroom while the couple switched to mattresses in the front room. They eventually signed for their new property in February.

“Once you say ‘yes’ to the offer of a newbuild, you are off the council’s list,” Ms Francis said.

Juliet Francis in her living room surrounded by her packed and dismantled possessionsJuliet Francis in her living room surrounded by her packed and dismantled possessions (Image: ROB DAVIES)

But the scheme’s main developer had got into difficulties and was wound up the same month, leaving the estate still half-built.

This has understandably taken its toll on the family.

“My older daughter has self-harmed due to the stress,” Ms Francis said. “And Matthew feels they are now waiting for him to die.”

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Stonewater’s regional director of development Matthew Crucefix said: “We really sympathise with Mr Slack, his family, and the other customers that were excited to be moving into the new homes at Clehonger.

“We’re currently in negotiation with a main contractor and hope to restart work on site in August. We don’t yet have a final completion timeline, but we would hope to take handover of some of the homes by the end of the year.”

The family is also working with current housing provider Connexus to find alternative accommodation.