Eviction family offered new home

The family's offer to pay rent directly to the mortgage lender was rejected

A family of five who were due to be evicted because of their landlord's mortgage arrears have found a new home.

Despite paying their rent every month, Colin and Marlis Hempson's home in Plymouth was repossessed.

The couple, their three grown-up children and pets faced being made homeless.

But the county court has given the Hempson's a 10-day reprieve and the Westcountry Landlords' Association has helped them find another house.

The Hempson's landlord, who cannot be named, is believed to be out of the country.

We really like the property and we can move in by the weekend Colin Hempson

The family had offered to pay the rent directly to the mortgage company but this was rejected by Accord Mortgages.

The lender said accepting rental payments would create a new tenancy and make it difficult to obtain vacant possession of the property if future payments stopped.

Mr Hempson said the court reprieve and being offered another home was a "huge relief" to the family.

"We really like the property and we can move in by the weekend," he told BBC News.