I’m a mum-of-seven – we’re forced to live in a cramped one bed council flat… we sleep on the floor, I’m always in tears
A MUM and her SEVEN kids are living in a one-bedroom flat and forced to share makeshift beds or sleep on the floor.
Cheryl Shaw, of Oldham, Manchester, is “in tears every day” at the state of her living situation.
The family of eight can barely move inside the pokey, mould ridden flat, and Cheryl claims no one will help them.
Cheryl shares a bed on the living room floor with three of her youngest kids, while the other four are cramped into the bedroom.
Corey, 14, Lacey, 10, Oakley, 6, Colton, 9, Skylar, 8, Laila, 2, Leah, 15, and their mum have no living space to unwind in, or play areas for activites.
They were given the one-bed home just over three years ago, when Cheryl was pregnant with her daughter.
It was only intended to be for the two of them but the mum has welcomed her other six children back into the flat in December due to situations out with her control.
The 38-year-old told the Manchester Evening News: “I can’t live like this much longer.
“I’m in tears every day. The children hate the living situation. But I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall.”
The heartbroken mum said she lays out thick bedding for the kids sleeping on the floor to make it feel comfortable.
“I’m trying to fight,” she added.
“I do everything everybody asks me to. The kids can’t sleep properly – the situation is awful.”
Cheryl is desperate to find a property that will accommodate all of her kids after barely surviving in the one-bed flat for nine months.
‘NO HELP’
According to the fed-up mum, Oldham Council have told her to think about re-locating, as five-bed properties haven’t been available for the past two years in the area.
But, Cheryl claims this will only exacerbate her family’s struggle, being severed from their support network.
The 38-year-old also claimed the council recommended she go into private renting but this hasn’t been possible for several reasons.
Firstly, Cheryl explained most landlords won’t accept her with seven kids in tow.
And secondly, the majority of places require a guarantor, which the mum can’t provide.
Washing and drying clothes for a family of eight inside the property has also led to a nasty mould problem – which is causing Cheryl more stress.
She said: “The children have always got coughs and colds.
“The damp worries me. It’s just horrible. I have got clothes round the back of my setee because I don’t have anywhere else to put them.”
The fuming mum claimed she has repeatedly contacted the council and First Choice Homes (FCHO), who manage the property, but they refuse to help.
Cheryl was outraged with officials from FCHO allegedly told her to “open your windows” when she reported the mould issue.
The poor mum is suffering with such intense anxiety she was diagnosed with shingles.
“I honestly don’t know where to turn. I have done everything,” she continues.
“All I want is a little bit of help and for my children to be able to sleep properly and go to school with a fresh head.”
The mum-of-seven claimed she is constantly batting off noise complaints from the neighbours and is terrified of being evicted.
But, Cheryl explained it is impossible to keep the flat quiet with so many kids, from teens to tots.
How to complain about your council home
According to the government’s website, there are three steps you can take to complain about your council property.
At first contact your local council, they should have a complaints procedure that you can follow.
If the issue isn’t resolved by the council, you can contact your MP or a local councillor to ask for their support.
If the problem is still not resolved you can contact the Housing Ombudsman. You can email them at info@housing-ombudsman.gov.uk or telephone 0300 111 3000.
A First Choice Homes Oldham spokesperson said: “We are unable to comment about an individual tenant because of our commitment to protecting confidentiality and our obligations under data protection law.
“That said, when information is brought to our attention, we review that internally and act swiftly to address any shortfall in services including any report of damp and mould which we prioritise immediately.
“We work in partnership with Oldham Council who contractually manage the allocation of our vacant properties in the borough. Those in housing need can apply to the Housing Register to bid for all social housing properties that are available within Oldham, including those properties managed by other housing associations. We would encourage anyone seeking to be re-housed in Oldham to contact Oldham Council to ensure they have the correct support and guidance to find suitable accommodation.
“We are making our contribution to addressing the chronic shortage of social housing. Last year we built 137 new homes, and we are on target to build 188 this year, including larger family homes. We are committed to providing homes that are safe and fit for purpose and would encourage any of our customers experiencing any issues to contact us as soon as possible so we can work together to resolve them.”
An Oldham Council spokesperson: “We’ve been made aware of this particular case and we are working with First Choice Homes to support them in finding a temporary housing solution which meets the residents current needs.
“Unfortunately, the housing crisis means we cannot always guarantee there is a sufficient number of houses available to bid on, in particular those with a higher number of bedrooms, as these homes are in very high demand and rarely become available.
“But no one should have to live in substandard housing no matter the circumstances, we’ll be working with FCHO to correct this issue as soon as possible.”