Family fight to be rehoused over health concerns (From Borehamwood Times)

Family fight to be rehoused over health concerns

8:20am Friday 25th July 2008

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The parents of three daughters are growing increasingly concerned for the health of the family due to their overcrowded Borehamwood home.

Emma Wass, 24, and Julian Yeoman, 35, of Manor Way, have been waiting for more than a year to be rehoused by William Sutton Homes.

The couple are currently living in a two-bedroom maisonette with their three children; four-year-old Sophie, Jessica, 3, and one-year-old Scarlet.

The two eldest children share one room, Ms Wass and Mr Yeoman sleep in the second single bedroom and their youngest daughter sleeps in a cot on the landing at the top of the stairs.

Ms Wass said: "We first notified William Sutton I was pregnant with our third child in December 2006. Despite sending them a pregnancy note and later a birth certificate we had not heard anything by September 2007.

"My daughters’ doctor has even written to William Sutton to express her concerns regarding my children’s health and safety."

But according to the housing association no paperwork has been received.

Ms Wass added: "I can’t believe it, this basically means they have lost some very important documents. They have made mistake after mistake and all we received is a £10 voucher for Tesco, which I think is a bit of an insult.

"Despite promises of visits by health and safety officers and repeated letters nothing seems to be happening. I want my children to be safe so we need to be rehoused." A spokesman for the association said the family would not be affected despite there being no record of any documents being received.

Conrad Smith, Hertsmere regional manager for William Sutton Homes, said: "We understand Ms Wass is anxious to be rehoused and are sympathetic to her current housing situation. Unfortunately, there is a very high demand for family homes in Hertsmere and we currently have around 200 people on our waiting lists.

"Only a third of our properties have three bedrooms and we have a very low turnover of homes in this area. Miss Wass’s case has been assessed taking into account her personal circumstances and those of the household. Any supporting evidence provided would also be taken into account especially issues surrounding medical needs."

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