A WOMAN left confined to a wheelchair says she “feels like a number” after being told she cannot move to a bungalow which could change her life.

Mary-Lou Fleckney, 35, has suffered from osteoporosis since the age of 24 and from avascular necrosis, a bone tissue condition, for six years.

She lives in a two-storey house in Warley Close, Braintree, but as her condition has got worse she has become wheelchair-bound and now struggles to cope with the two storey property.

The partner of her aunt, Peter Lewis, agreed to a mutual property swap for his two-bedroom bungalow in Broadway, Silver End.

But housing provider Home Group has vetoed the move, saying that because of the bedroom tax, it is no longer able to offer properties which would be under-occupied.

Miss Fleckney said: “I am in constant pain all the time and I cannot get about. My mobility is very limited and I struggle with everyday life.

“I am sleeping on the sofa at my house because I cannot go upstairs, I cannot even sleep in my own bed — but even just sleeping is a struggle as I am in so much pain. I cannot even tuck my youngest daughter in at night, I cannot read her stories and she has to go to bed on her own. It is affecting the whole family.”

Mr Lewis pays the so-called bedroom tax, but government policy states you cannot move a new tenant in to property if they are under-occupying the space.

Miss Fleckney said: “Moving would mean I could live my life properly again. I could start to live my life with some sort of independence again rather than not being able to go upstairs. I cannot even get to the shower at the moment. I feel as if I have been treated as a number by Home Group. To be honest I feel like I have been discriminated against.”

Nicki Burton, Home Group performance leader, said: “Since the introduction of the Bedroom Tax we no longer allow mutual exchanges to take place where under-occupation will occur.

“Mr Lewis lives alone so he does not qualify for a two bedroom property. Miss Fleckney has the right to appeal this decision and we will take into account any extenuating circumstances such as her limited mobility.

“We also urge her to speak with her local authority’s occupational therapy team to see if any adaptations could be requested for her current home.”