Rob says he can’t stay - council says he can’t go

Mr Charteris lives with his 12-year-old son Danny in a three bedroomed council house in Yeomanry Close, Warwick, which became too big for his needs after his 22-year-old daughter, Jade, moved out.

The qualified black belt was able to claim housing benefit after losing his engineering job and deciding to build up his mixed martial arts club into a full-time business.

But from April 1 Mr Charteris has been steadily sinking into debt after losing nearly £60 a month because he has an unused bedroom.

He said: “This is a lovely house in a quiet neighbourhood and the obvious answer was for my son and I to move to a smaller place. I went on the HomeSwapper website and quickly realised I’d have no difficulty downsizing to another place in Warwick. The only trouble is that my landlords, the district council, say I can’t move because I’m in rent arrears.

“But then I can’t get out of debt and start to pay off my rent arrears because I can’t move. It’s a Catch 22 situation and I just can’t see the way out.”

Mr Charteris has contacted the council and written to Chris White, MP, but so far nobody seems to be able to help.

He said: “It’s so sad because this is a perfect family home close to St John’s Museum that so many other tenants with bigger families would love to be able to rent.”

Chris White, MP, says he has passed Mr Charteris’s observations on the relevant minister and says he will be able to discuss the situation further although it’s possible the Citizen’s Advice Bureau may be the best place to go.

A spokeswoman for the district council said: “We are unable to comment on an individual’s personal circumstances.”

“However, we have previously contacted Mr Charteris, along with all of our tenants who are now required to pay the under-occupation charge, to advise them how we can support them. We are pleased to say that Mr Charteris has been in touch with us and we are offering him the appropriate advice and support.

“HomeSwapper is a service helping people across the UK to swap homes. This is done by way of a mutual exchange, whereby tenants in social housing swap their homes and their tenancy and this is why landlords expect all applicants to have a clear rent account.”

Tenants struggling with rent or other bills are asked to contact the Financial Inclusion Team on 456454.