A son says he and his disabled brother face being made homeless after a housing provider ordered them to leave their family home following the death of their dad.

Mac Sladden has lived in the three-bedroom flat in Portland Avenue, Murston, for eight years after moving in with his parents, Mavis and Arthur, who had been there since 2005.

But now social landlord Optivo, formerly AmicusHorizon, says he and his disabled brother, Anthony, must move out.

Mac, 53, however, has other ideas. “I’m staying put,” he said. “I want to stay where I am. All the neighbours know me.”

He said the threat of eviction, which would leave the siblings homeless, comes after a mix-up over whose name was on the tenancy.

In 2011, he says his mum arranged for his name to be added to the contract as successor if something happened to her. She died a year later.

Then in 2012, Mac says his brother’s name was also put on the tenancy.

But in June last year, shortly after the death of their father, Arthur, they received a message saying they had 14 days to clear the property.

Mac said: “I was told I’m not on the tenancy agreement and they had no record of the succession, so we’ve been fighting it ever since.”

"I'm staying put. I want to stay where I am. All the neighbours know me" - Mac Sladden

Unfortunately, they had no paperwork to prove what they were saying and the case was thrown out when it was heard at county court last month.

The brothers were given until Thursday to move out but were still there this week.

Optivo’s Eileen Martin, Kent regional director, said there was an affordable housing shortage in Swale where 547 families were in need of homes.

She added: “We understand why Mr Sladden and his brother are frustrated at this difficult time. There’s already been one succession to the property and, by law, only one succession is allowed. Sadly, in this instance, that succession has already occurred.

“We’ve worked closely with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to make sure he has received the independent advice required in this circumstance.

“Legal action has been delayed a number of times to enable Mr Sladden to act on the support and advice he’s been given to find alternative, suitable accommodation, for him and his brother.”

She added that Optivo had “to make the best use of our homes to help meet the housing crisis”.