A WEYMOUTH teenager and his mum, who has a failing heart, have been forced to share a room in a bed and breakfast with 'no cooking or washing facilities' following eviction.

The youngster, Lance, said he and his single mother were evicted from social housing through ‘no fault of our own’, which has had ‘detrimental impacts’ on his and his mother’s health.

The 17-year-old said: “My mum, who can’t work because of her failing heart, and I have been on the new housing scheme to be placed in a suitable home.

“The council’s scheme has failed to find her appropriate housing and has forced us into a B&B.”

Lance said the situation has had a detrimental impact on his mental health and working ability as he tries to juggle helping out with his mum, attending college, working part-time at McDonald’s and volunteering at the British Heart Foundation in Weymouth.

“I’m speechless and angry," he said. "It’s so much for a 17-year-old's plate, it’s really affecting my emotional state and is detrimental to my mental health. I cannot see the compassion in social services.”

Lance and his mum were evicted via a section 21 notice, which a property owner can use to evict tenants after a fixed term tenancy ends if there’s a written contract, or during a tenancy with no fixed end date.

The teenager said they were not given a reason for the notice having never had an issue with rent. The mother and son have been staying in Wentworth Guest House, Weymouth, for the past three weeks.

Lance added: “There’s no cooking facilities, no washing facilities. We even had to rehome our cats.”

Dorset Council said using B&Bs was a last port of call.

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, portfolio holder for housing, said: “There is a real shortage of social housing in Weymouth and we have to rely heavily on temporary accommodation and the private sector to help people who are struggling to find somewhere to live.

“We try to avoid using B&Bs as much as we can and try to find suitable accommodation as soon as possible.

“Any household in B&B will have an officer working with them to help them find more suitable accommodation.

“We aim to prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place and, where possible, we will work with the landlord or family member to try and keep the applicant in their home, or even negotiate an extension to the notice to quit, while they look for further accommodation.

“Anyone who is threatened with homelessness is encouraged to contact the council for free advice and assistance as soon as possible.”

Lance said since getting in touch with the Echo, he and his mother had been offered suitable accommodation, but not for another three weeks.