Angus Council is set to start eviction proceedings against an Afghanistan war veteran on Wednesday.
Dennis Buchan has been served with a notice to quit a three-bedroom property on Fraser Path, Arbroath.
If he does not leave the local authority flat by the time this notice expires, then Angus Council will apply for a court order for the army vet to be evicted.
Mr Buchan has hit out at the council in a national newspaper, stating his treatment was “inhumane” and claimed his situation was more stressful than his two tours of Afghanistan.
Angus Council last night defended its actions, stating that Mr Buchan had been given two reasonable offers of accommodation and that they were following the correct procedures.
It is understood that Mr Buchan presented himself to the council as homeless last year. The council did not have any one or two-bedroom flats available and, as an emergency measure, gave him the three-bedroom flat.
The 28-year-old then filled out the relevant paperwork to be put on the council’s housing waiting list. He was offered a one-bedroom flat in Brechin, which he refused, stating that he wanted to keep living in Arbroath.
The council then offered him a one-bedroom flat in Arbroath, which he also refused.
The council spokesperson said that since two housing offers had been declined they no longer had a “duty to house” Mr Buchan.
She said: “We have a statutory duty to secure permanent accommodation for applicants found to be unintentionally homeless or threatened with homelessness.
“An applicant can be made up to two reasonable offers in suitable area(s) according to their assessed need. Where a first offer is refused, we will establish the reason and take this into account before making further offers.
“When an applicant has refused two reasonable offers, no further offers will be made and tenants are made aware of the risks associated with refusing these offers.
“When a tenant does not take up a reasonable offer of a permanent home, we no longer have a duty to house them. People who feel that they have been treated unfairly have the right to appeal.”
Mr Buchan claims to have suffered financially since refusing the one-bedroom flats because of the introduction of the bedroom tax in April this year. He claimed it cut his benefits from £71 a week to £40.
The father-of-one is quoted as saying: “I was better off in Afghanistan it was less stressful.
“I risked my life for my country. I feel so let down. It makes me so angry to have been left to struggle like this.”
Arbroath councillor David Fairweather said the soldier should consider himself fortunate to have been offered the flats.
He said: “This gentleman has been very lucky that he has been offered properties in Brechin and Arbroath.
“Angus Council do not have a lot of properties at hand. I know of many people who would have bitten your hand off for a chance of a flat.
“He may feel hard done by but he has been one of the few that have been lucky enough to be offered properties but he has turned them down. What else does he want the council to do?”
Mr Buchan was unavailable for comment on Monday night.