A DAD whose fiancée died the day before they were due to get married claims he was “forced” to leave his council home hours after her death.

Rob James, 60, was left heartbroken after his partner of 10 years, Bev Pearce, lost her battle with cancer.

Mr James, from Laindon, had been living with Bev in her council home in Pound Lane, Basildon, for a decade and was looking forward to marrying her on April 14.

Sadly, Bev was admitted to hospital and died only 21 hours before they were due to wed.

Mr James said: “I hadn’t had the chance to propose to Bev with everything that had been going on - there had never been a right time - but then in January she surprised me and proposed to me.

“So I started cleaning out my house, removing all the furniture and the carpets and everything, so I could move in with Bev once we were married.”

Mr James had been living in a three-bedroom council property and was looking forward to downsizing to Bev’s bungalow because it suited both their disabilities.

“I gave the council four weeks’ notice on my house so my tenancy would have ended on April 15.

“Bev had a three-year prognosis but once we were married I would have had succession to her house if she died.”

Two weeks before they were due to get married, Bev began to suffer hip pain and doctors discovered the cancer had spread to her hip.

She was admitted to St Luke’s Hospice on Friday April 13 and died later that day.

Six hours later, Rob had informed the council of her death and he was told he could no longer live in the home as they were not married.

“I was heartbroken. It just didn’t make sense. There’s all these people out there that need housing. They can have my three-bed and I can downsize to Bev’s house.

“I can’t explain how hard it is. You would expect compassion and understanding. The housing charity told us that they can show discretion but it just doesn’t feel like anyone is supporting us.”

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: “Mr James gave notice on his tenancy ahead of his planned wedding to Ms Pearce. Mr James was aware that the couple would need to have lived together for one year or be married in order for consideration to be given for a joint tenancy.

“Sadly, Ms Pearce passed away prior to the wedding, which Mr James notified the council of. He contacted us to establish whether he would be able to take over his late partner’s tenancy and the council informed him that he did not meet the succession criteria.

“Basildon Council has given Mr James the option to retract the notice given on his own tenancy and also advised him that he would likely be eligible for the downsizing scheme, which offers assistance with removals, carpets and decorating of a new home in addition to a financial incentive for releasing a family sized property.

“We offer our condolences to Mr James at this difficult time.”