Elderly Islington couple ‘forced to give son their home’

An elderly couple were allegedly forced from their million pound home after their son pushed them to transfer ownership of the property to him, a court has heard.

George and Aglaia Kousouros, who lived in their five storey home in Offord Road, Barnsbury, for 40 years, were said to be “pressured into moving into residential care” in Cyprus and giving their £1.5m house to their son, Harry Kousouros, now 82, according to his half-sister, Anna Arresti.

The case has reached Central London County Court where Mr Kousouros is asking a judge to order the transfer of the house into his sole name.

But Mrs Arresti, 63, is hotly disputing his claim, asserting that each of them should have a half-share of the house in line with “mirror wills” drawn up by their parents in 2003.

And she has accused her brother of taking advantage of his frail parents, who have since died, as they had no idea of their home’s increasing value when he moved into the property with his family in 2001. The property was valued at £211,000 back in 2001 – but is now believed to be worth between £1m to £1.5m.

Mrs Arresti’s barrister, Gerald Wilson said that neither of them “knew what they were signing” and that they believed the transfer simply related to their son taking over “management of their affairs.”

Mr Kousouros denied the allegations, stating that he had always supported his parents both financially and practically since his teens.

His barrister, Grant Armstrong, said he had reached a clear agreement on the home transfer in return for him paying his parents’ living and nursing home expenses. He also told the court that Mrs Arresti was present when her parents agreed the deal, and received £50,000.

The case continues.