Two men on incapacity benefit claim they were duped into decorating a house on the understanding that they could live there afterwards - then got kicked out.

Landlady Maxine Stewart took Reynold Outhwaite, 49, and Michael Bentley, 32, both pictured, to County Court to get a possession order, insisting they paid her £1,130 legal costs.

The two men, who cannot work due to their disabilities, had already left the house on Howgate, Idle.

In June, they claim to have agreed a "verbal contract" with Ms Stewart, of Lee Lane, Shibden, near Halifax, to move in, decorate the house then begin paying rent.

"I was invited to go in and live there immediately - vandals had stolen stonework and she wanted the property lived in," said Mr Outhwaite.

They carried on paying rent for their previous home where they kept some of their belongings because the new house was not fit to live in, he claims.

Joanna Moody, for Ms Stewart, told circuit judge Graham Cliffe: "There was no tenancy agreement in operation.

"The defendant was allowed to enter the premises in order to undertake some decorating works but at no time was any tenancy agreement concluded."

Mr Outhwaite, who represented the pair because they were not given legal aid, told the court: "Ms Stewart induced me to go into the property and spend money to give it a facelift on the basis that I was given a secure tenancy over the long term.

"Now it appears I was used to give the property a facelift in order to sell it."

Judge Cliffe looked at pictures of the house covered with mould and damp before work began, and of the newly-decorated living room.

The men had cleaned and decorated the lounge, cleaned and painted an ancillary room and stripped the bathroom.

Mr Outhwaite, who receives £142 a fortnight in benefits, bought paint, carpets and other materials for the rest of the house.

At the end of June, the two men went to sign a contract at Ms Stewart's solicitors Stachiw and Bashir on Great Horton Road but claim that the terms had changed from what they had agreed - the rent had gone up and the lease was short-term.

They refused to sign it.

A solicitor's letter dated July 1 accused them of trespassing and demanded that they leave by July 4 or face legal proceedings.

Mr Outhwaite wrote, promising to go once Ms Stewart paid him for decorating. He was asked to submit a bill through a solicitor which he could not afford to do.

The pair returned to their former flat on Blenheim Road, Manningham, where they still live.

Mr Outhwaite told the court: "I am quite prepared to hand over the keys but they are charging me £1,130 for decorating Maxine's property.

"If they will do away with the costs, I am happy to walk away from this distasteful matter."

Both parties finally agreed to drop their claims, provided that Mr Outhwaite did not pursue a claim for compensation.

Judge Cliffe said: "That seems like a sensible compromise."