A pensioner faces being evicted from a council home where he has lived since he was just a baby.
Ken May, 68, has been embroiled in a long-standing dispute with his council over the conditions and safety of his property in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
He has now been handed a third eviction notice, despite having reached agreements with the authority on notices last year and in 2019.
Ken says he could be kicked out of the property, which he has lived in since 1955, as early as next week.
A court order had allowed him to stay at the home - provided he reconnected his home to the power grid, having previously powered it with a petrol generator.
Council workers spent eight weeks repairing and rewiring his property, while he lived in temporary accommodation, and he was also required to allow annual safety inspections.
But on April 5, Ken received a letter from he council notifying him to a series of three-monthly property inspections - which he maintains is a breach of the court order reached last August.
He told Chronicle Live: "I have done absolutely nothing. All I have done is plug items in. The court order requires me to give access to annual safety checks and I am complying with them,
"I have done nothing to the electrics. The re-wiring is exactly as they left it.
"If Gateshead Council believe I have tampered they should present that evidence to the court. They won't do that because they have no evidence of tampering."
Ken claims that he kept everything exactly as it was left following the repairs, although the council accuses him to "allowing the condition of the property to deteriorate".
Its letter reads: "I can confirm that the reason that inspections are necessary, is because of ongoing concerns about the safety of you, your neighbours, and any person visiting the area, based on a history of you interfering with the electrical supply and allowing the condition of your property to deteriorate to a substandard condition and causing a potential hazard to yourself and others.
"As your Landlord, Gateshead Council has undertaken significant repairs to the property to put these issues right and has the right to request access to carry out inspections to ensure that this does not happen again under the terms of your Tenancy Agreement."
Ken emailed the council back refusing them the right to conduct the inspections.
He said: "I have done absolutely nothing. All I have done is plug items in. The court order requires me to give access to annual safety checks and I am complying with them.
"I have done nothing to the electrics. The re-wiring is exactly as they left it.
"If Gateshead Council believe I have tampered they should present that evidence to the court. They won't do that because they have no evidence of tampering."
Speaking on the property's condition, Ken added: "The house is in the same way that they left it, all my stuff is still in boxes, so they are responsible for the state of the house."
He also says that the council was allowed into his home last year for repairs and to remove asbestos from the walls.
Ken alleges there is no asbestos in the walls and that he could have remained in his home while the repairs took place.
Speaking on receiving his most recent eviction notice on May 4, he said: "Can you imagine fighting for your rights against the council all this time?
"Can you imagine living with the permanent threat of homelessness, removed from your home of 67 years."
Ken maintains that the council has no right to repossess his home, and now plans to lodge a legal appeal to prevent the eviction.
A council spokesperson said: "Gateshead Council were granted an outright possession order in this case, as they recognised the importance of keeping our property and residents safe, placing the responsibility on Mr May to allow access for regular inspections.
"Unfortunately, Mr May has persistently refused to grant us access to his home and is therefore in breach of the court order and his Tenancy Agreement.
"We, therefore, have had no choice but to regrettably activate a warrant for his eviction, having been granted an outright order for possession of the property following a successful legal trial.
"The eviction is scheduled to take place next Thursday, 25 May.
"The health and safety of our tenants are paramount, and we continue to work with Mr May, and other relevant agencies to resolve this matter. We have also advised Mr May to seek independent advice."
Ken was also issued an eviction notice in 2019 after the council raised concerns about the clutter inside the home. This was later resolved.
