Wokingham family faces eviction under last-minute Section 21 notice
A blind Wokingham mother and her terminally ill son must leave their adapted home by 18 July after a Section 21 no-fault eviction notice was served on 24 April—days before the UK outlawed the procedure on 1 May. Lynne Antink, 71, and Colin Antink, 34, say the eviction leaves them terrified and effectively homeless.
Key Takeaways
- Lynne and Colin Antink received a Section 21 notice for their Denton Road bungalow on 24 April 2026.
- Both are registered blind with severe mobility issues; Colin has terminal Addison's disease and kidney failure.
- Middlesex Housing Co-op plans to sell the property; Wokingham Borough Council says its options are limited.
- The family must vacate by 18 July even though Section 21 was banned from 1 May.
- Clive Jones MP's office is supporting the family while Lynne disputes Co-op Homes' claim of regular contact.
Why was this Wokingham family served an eviction notice?
Lynne Antink, 71, and her son Colin, 34, have lived in a chalet bungalow on Denton Road in Wokingham since 2009. The home includes a stairlift, walk-in shower and wheelchair access after years of adaptation.
Middlesex Housing Co-op, managed by Co-op Homes, confirmed it plans to sell the property. Steven Wild, managing director of Co-op Homes, said the sale would fund new co-operative housing developments in West London and that the decision had not been taken lightly.
Lynne told reporters the family feels "effectively homeless and terrified" and accused the housing provider of prioritising profit over tenants. She also questioned why a neighbouring property owned by the same provider was not subject to eviction.
Can a Section 21 eviction still proceed after the May ban?
On 24 April, just days before stronger tenant protections came into force, the family received a Section 21 no-fault eviction notice—a type of eviction the government banned on 1 May. Lynne said the notice was issued "very quietly, very carefully in the last week in April."
Lynne and Colin must leave by 18 July even though the ban took effect on 1 May, a deadline clash that mirrors policy cut-off risks tracked in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage.
When the letter arrived, Colin found his mother sobbing in the kitchen, went into shock and needed strong medication to prevent adrenal collapse. Lynne said no one had responded to her letters or emails to Co-op Homes.
What is Wokingham Borough Council doing to help?
Wokingham Borough Council has expressed sympathy for the "terrified" mother and son but warned it may have limited options to find a similar adapted home before 18 July. Lynne told the Bracknell News the family had "heard nothing at all" since the eviction order became public.
Council leader Stephen Conway, who speaks for the authority on housing, said: "We always do what we can to help when anyone is made homeless or is in immediate danger of homelessness. But we can't stop evictions from properties owned by private landlords or even housing associations that are completely independent of the council."
Co-op Homes said it has been in regular phone, email and in-person contact and will work with the council to identify a suitable new property. Lynne disputes that, though she is receiving help from the parliamentary office of Clive Jones MP.
What happens next for Lynne and Colin Antink?
Both are registered blind, hearing impaired and have severe mobility issues. They rely on each other as carers and for emotional support, and fear being split up into homes of multiple occupancy.
Colin has terminal Addison's disease and kidney failure. In the past, when he tried to move out alone, he repeatedly collapsed. Stress can trigger a life-threatening adrenal crisis requiring an emergency injection within minutes and a category-one ambulance response.
Lynne said: "I have to be out by July 18, and I haven't finished packing yet. They can't throw us out on a park bench, surely?" For full context, see the BBC's reporting on the case.