A mother-of-three has escaped being made homeless - despite facing eviction after her estate agent brother failed to pay the rent.

Brighton County Court today paved the way for Yvonne Youngs to be evicted from where she was living in St John's Road, Hove.

Landlord Ali Merat is owed more than £2,800 in rent arrears by her brother Keith Youngs, whom she had believed owned the house.

But Ms Youngs did not dispute the possession order granted to Mr Merat, after reaching agreement with him about when she would move out.

Earlier this month, Ms Youngs told The Argus how she feared being forced into bed-and-breakfast accommodation with her children because of uncertainty over the house.

However, she has now found a two-bedroom flat nearby and hopes to move in soon, with the help of Brighton and Hove City Council's Access housing scheme.

The Argus previously revealed how Mr Youngs, director of agency Youngs Owen until its sudden closure last April, fled Brighton and Hove, leaving his sister facing eviction.

Ms Youngs and her three children had moved in with Mr Youngs in March last year, believing his claims that he owned the house.

But he moved to the north of England this summer after facing angry complaints from ex-clients after closing the Youngs Owen office in Western Road, Hove.

The Argus has been told of alleged debts totalling more than £60,000.

Landlords complained they had not been given rent collected on their behalf while tenants lost deposits and contractors had not been paid for jobs.

Ms Youngs did not learn until this summer that the St John's Road house was not actually owned by her brother but by Brighton restaurateur Mr Merat.

Mr Merat was unhappy Mr Youngs had disappeared but he and Ms Youngs have remained on friendly terms, both directing blame and bitterness towards Mr Youngs.