A MOTHER-of-two who has waited six years for a council house was told she could have one - if she left her husband.

Sarah Alexander claims York housing chiefs said this was her only option unless her husband, Derek, forked out £1,400 of unpaid rent on a property he lived in before they got married.

"I was so shocked and couldn't believe a top boss would say something like that to someone who has a husband and kids," she said.

"She said the only way I could be rehoused was to leave Derek. It's disgusting."

But a spokeswoman for City of York Council said they had to get tough on non-payment of rent, though they did offer support for tenants who struggled to pay off arrears.

She said in such cases as this, a debt burden would not be passed on to a husband or wife if it was accrued before they were married.

The Alexander family have lived in temporary council accommodation, in Danebury Drive, Acomb, for six years while waiting to be permanently housed.

Mr Alexander, 47, said they had suffered financial difficulties and recently escaped eviction by one day after paying off £1,700 of unpaid rent in the nick of time.

He revealed they packed up their belongings after being given the impression they would then be moved into a new council house - when officers demanded the £1,400 "out of the blue".

Officers said the debt was outstanding from when Mr Alexander lived at a house in Sowerby Road in 1997 - but Mr Alexander disputes this, claiming he had moved out by then.

"There's no way we can afford to pay it," he said.

"Why didn't they tell me about it before now?

"Sarah would never leave me but all this has put a strain on our marriage. The council are trying to rip my family apart.

"We're classed as homeless and just want our own place."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We can only apologise to Mr Alexander that he was not made aware of the issue until recently.

"However, there are a limited number of council properties in York, and a long waiting list of people wanting new homes.

"The council's allocations policy states that customers presenting themselves as homeless will not be considered for alternative permanent accommodation if they have former rent arrears over £500 or until they have paid an agreed amount for six months.

"Under a new scheme to reduce rent arrears, the council looks to agree a payment plan with each accepted homeless customer.

"If they make regular payments, the authority reduces their former tenant arrears by an additional 50 per cent of the amount repaid.

"We will continue to work with Mr and Mrs Alexander to try to help meet their housing needs."

Updated: 09:31 Wednesday, May 24, 2006