A SOUTH Hams man has blasted a 'hypocritical' housing authority for not allowing his family to downsize to a new home because 'they are not local enough'.

Terrence Launce and his wife have been trying to downsize from their four-bed Yealmpton house for months.

The couple thought they'd finally bid successfully on a two-bed house in Aveton Gifford, only to receive a phone call from housing authority DCH a few days later quashing their dream.

Mr Launce, said: 'My wife and I have a four-bed house in Yealmp-ton.

We have been trying to downsize after hearing about all the families who need bigger housing.

'We have tried everything possible to get a two-bed property but is seems DCH do not want to know.

'We signed up to Devon Homechoice and found a two-bed place in Aveton Gifford.

'My family has been born and bred in Devon since the 14th century, but today my wife received a call from someone at DCH saying we can't get the home because "we're not local enough".

'I have fished out of Salcombe and I have friends in Aveton Gifford – it just means nobody can bid on anything.

'There is a house on my road, which is only around four or five years old that has been empty for over a month.'

Mr Launce declared he felt insulted when he was told he was not local enough and said DCH were hypocrites. He added: 'Our home is getting too big for me but DCH don't want to know.

'The man living four doors down from us, who lives in a three-bed house, was offered a bungalow in Loddiswell with no family connection there. How does that work out?

'I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but the gentleman living next door to the Aveton Gifford bungalow is from up country – it's just hypocritical.

'It's insulting when they say you're not local enough. It makes you wonder how many other houses are being held back.

'I'm normally a private person but I'm incensed by it. We're maybe being a little selfish by wanting to move somewhere perfect, but we are having no help whatsoever.

'It feels so wrong when people are trying to downsize but don't get any help.

'I've been here all my life except when I was out at sea in the merchant navy. How local can you be?

'What chance do my wife and I have on downsizing if we can't go anywhere?'

DCH confirmed it is fully supportive of residents wanting to downsize but said it has to abide by local authority policies.

A DCH spokesman said: 'All our rented homes in Devon are advertised and allocated through Devon Homechoice, a partnership arrangement managing Devon's housing register administered by the local authorities.

'Anybody looking to move to a new home would need to register with Homechoice, and bid for a property accordingly.

'Some of these properties will be subject to local lettings policy in accordance with the local authority, which DCH have to strictly adhere to.

'We have other rented homes in the South Hams area which Mr Launce can apply for through Homechoice in the usual way, and we are encouraging him to do so.

'Our team have been in contact with Mr Launce to provide advice on how to apply to South Hams Council for housing advice and to offer support with this process in line with Devon Homechoice's eligibility criteria.'