A mother of four has been told central heating for the council-owned house she hoped to move into is not essential despite her partner's terminal illness.

The 30-year-old woman, who did not wish to be named, has been trying to move from a housing trust-owned two-bed house, in Mitcham, with her four young children and 41-year-old partner, who has lung cancer.

The move into a three-bed house in Morden was offered by their current landlords London and Quadrant Housing Trust, which had no other suitable properties for the family, as part of a reciprocal arrangement with Merton Council.

They moved into the property in mid-December after requesting that a single gas fire the house's only source of heating be replaced by central heating.

But the council's medical adviser deemed the provision of central heating "not essential".

The woman told the Guardian: "Once I realised the council was not going to do anything about the heating, we had to move back into the two-bed house."

But Merton Council says it was only trying to help. Interim head of housing services Colin Mayhead said: "We were asked if we could find a house for their tenant and, despite the great demand on our housing stock, we offered her a three bedroom, two living room house in Morden."

A spokesman for London & Quadrant Housing Trust said: "We will be working closely with Merton Council

to find a more suitable home as soon as we can."

December 27, 2001 15:30