A vulnerable young mum in dire need of a home feels Hammersmith and Fulham Council tried to take advantage of her desperate situation by offering her their “crappiest property”.
The woman, who has asked not to be named, is the victim of domestic abuse and living in fear of her violent ex-boyfriend and father to her two-year-old child tracking her down.
She was offered council property in February which she hastily accepted, before realising it was in a complete state of disrepair. She said the boiler was condemned and had damp and mould.
She has now spent three months living in temporary accommodation in various areas such as Hayes, Slough and Hounslow , and moving from hotel to hotel every two or three days, while she waits for repairs to the property in Hammersmith .
She said: “This kind of living isn’t good for my son or me. I feel completely let down by the council and by the system.”
She says she waited 18 months after applying for emergency help to move before being offered the property earlier this year, which she felt pressured to accept after one brief viewing.
She said: “I finished work early and went at 4pm to view, but it was winter and there was no electricity so I couldn’t turn the lights on and have a look around.
"I felt pressured to accept it because I didn’t feel safe where I was and was told if I didn’t accept they would give the keys to someone else.”
'Living in fear'
She had a week to prepare the home before moving in immediately problems arose. She said: “It wasn’t safe and habitable. Large chunks of plaster were falling down with the wallpaper, there was damp and mould in the property and my son has severe asthma.
“And I was told that the boiler was condemned and shouldn’t have passed its gas safety check. How could I live there in the middle of winter with my son and no boiler?
“I took legal advice and handed the keys back but I’m still waiting for it to be repaired.
“I’m living in fear that the man I gave evidence against in family court could harm us, and I feel the council gave me the crappiest property knowing it wasn’t fit for a dog to live in. I feel they took advantage of my situation because they knew I was desperate.
“I did the things I did to keep my son safe, but I don’t feel I’m being helped. I’m staying in Hayes for a few days, then Slough, then Hounslow. I don’t have family to help. I did everything I had to do to keep my son safe and I just want to be helped.”
A spokesperson for the council said: “We’re very sorry the works have taken so long, especially as this person is already dealing with difficult circumstances.
"A boiler is ready to be installed and we have also now found an alternative property close to her family if she would rather not accept her original offer.
“We will do everything we can to help her move into her new home.”
