22 January 2024 , 15:14
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A family of seven, living in a mouldy one-bedroom flat in Brixton, have been told they're not 'overcrowded' by their local council.
Amin Nuru, his wife and their five children are crammed into an open plan living room kitchen and single bedroom in their privately rented property. Despite this, a Lambeth council inspection in July 2023 concluded the family weren't 'statutorily overcrowded. Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) believe there's been a mistake.
According to UK-wide legal definitions, a household is considered overcrowded if more than three people are sleeping in two rooms. By these rules, Mr Nuru's family is made up of 3.5 people. The family, who only have two rooms they can use, should be classed as having not enough space, according to the housing group HASL.
They told the person who checked their home and also complained to the big bosses at the council's housing office, but no one got back to them. When asked why the family wasn't said to be too squashed in their home by the rules, Lambeth Council answered that they don't think 3.5 people in two rooms is too many.
Amin Nuru, his wife and their five kids are currently living in a one bedroom flat (Robert Firth)Mr Nuru believes his family should get a new home from the council quickly. His little girl Dareen, who is only 11 months old, has been to the hospital six times because she finds it hard to breathe, which Mr Nuru says is because of the bad mould and tiny flat. He said: "My daughter Dareen has been hospitalised six times. When she was born she had a hole in her heart and she still has problems breathing. The mould is very bad. It's everywhere in the house."
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"We want the council to rehouse us. They told us we're not an emergency, they've given us band B. We've looked at four bedroom and even three bedroom private housing, but we can't afford it. The rent is too much."
The family's one bedroom flat is also covered in black mould (Amin Nuru)Elizabeth Wyatt, from HASL, said: "It is shocking that the environmental health officer has incorrectly calculated the level of overcrowding and has been refusing to take any action on the family's case despite the hazardous conditions he would have witnessed on his inspection. It is both morally and legally wrong."
She also said: "Despite escalating our complaints, no one in the council appears to want to take any responsibility. The council have also had numerous warnings from medical professionals about the hazardous and life-threatening conditions of the property, but seem to be ignoring these."
But Lambeth Council insists they've considered everything properly when looking at the family's need for a new house. They're going to check Mr Nuru's application again just to make sure it's all correct.
Campaign group, Housing Action Lambeth and Southwark, believes the family is overcrowded (Robert Firth)A council spokeswoman said: "Lambeth's medical team has also approved the family for level-access ground-floor properties, CAT3. This indicates that their present living conditions are affecting their health to a marked degree, and a move is recommended to improve their health. They will have additional priority for level access ground floor flats that are advertised. We are working hard to help find a new home for Mr Nuru and his family, but there are many applicants seeking family homes of this size and very few homes available."
Jessica Hampson, chairwoman of CEL Solicitors, said: "According to statutory overcrowding laws, you are overcrowded if you have fewer rooms than you need for your family or household. Living rooms and bedrooms count as spaces that can be slept in but there are also stipulations on size of the room to ensure it is safe to be slept in. Having only one bedroom and a living room to sleep in would mean a family is living in overcrowded conditions which can have a detrimental effect on the family's mental and physical health."
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