<p>A grieving son has been left "destroyed" after losing a David v Goliath court battle to stay in the council home he’s lived in for nearly 50 years after both his parents died.<br></p><p>Steve White, 53, has been told to vacate his childhood home within the next 28 days after being booted out of the property by his local authority. </p><p>The lift engineer moved in as a child with his parents in 1974 and has lived in the three-bed semi in Bredon Avenue, Stourbridge, West Mids., for 48 years. </p><p>But less than a week after his 81-year-old mother Janet died in hospital with Covid-19 in October 2020 he was issued with the notice as she had been the tenant.</p><p>She had been the tenant and there no was no right of succession of the tenancy because of his dad's death a few years previously. </p><p>Mr White says the ordeal took its toll on his mental health and left him on anti-depressants as he fought to to try and keep his home. </p><p>He was hauled before Dudley Magistrates’ Court on Friday (5/8) for an eviction hearing brought by the council. </p><p>But after just a few brief minutes of highlighting how depressed the threats to turf him out of the house had left him - he was hit with a court order to vacate the property.</p><p>Judge Phil Mantle granted a possession order following an application by Dudley Council meaning he must find alternative accommodation in 28 days.</p><p>Chocking back his emotions after the case, Mr White said he didn’t know what he was going to do.<br></p><p>Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, Dudley Council's cabinet member for housing and communities, said after court: “We know this is a difficult and unsettling time for Mr White and we remain 100 percent committed to supporting him through this process and offering as much help as we can. </p><p>“We will be contacting Mr White shortly to discuss an offer of alternative accommodation following today’s court hearing.”<br></p>