Wiltshire vicar faces losing home of 20 years

Rose and Paul Ledbury, who have known Clair for 32 years, said: “Everybody in the village goes to Clair to do anything.

“Funerals, weddings, christenings, she’s just the go to person.”

GreenSquareAccord told the BBC that a survey was conducted on the condition of Ms Southgate’s home, and “it was clear the level of long-term investment needed to bring the property up to the right standard would not represent a responsible investment”.

“We recognise this news has been distressing for Mrs Southgate and we are committed to supporting her during this process,” they said.

“We are already in discussions with Mrs Southgate about available housing options and will support her to find a new home which meets her needs.

“We would like to be clear that she will not need to leave until we have worked with her to find a new home. She will be eligible for compensation, and we will cover expenses associated with her move.”

GreenSquareAccord added that while the decision “may appear unfair in isolation”, it has a “limited pot of funding” with which it maintains the 25,000 homes it owns and manages across England.

“Where the cost of investing to bring a property up to the right standards for our customer cannot be justified, the responsible decision is to sell that property and support the customer who lives in the property to move on to a suitable alternative – this is a standard part of the work of housing associations,” they said.