Couple's out-of-town accommodation a 'kick in the stomach'

A family from south-west London who were force to leave their home have said being offered temporary accommodation away from the area feels like a "kick in the stomach". 

Russel Harland and Selma Agirgol-Harland from Kingston were stuck in a hotel for months before they were offered the flat in Mitcham.

They said it was too far from their daughter's school and was "disgusting".

Kingston Council said it will review the suitability of the offer.

The family became homeless on 17 July after their landlord decided to sell the property, and were moved into Travelodge London Chessington Tolworth that evening by Kingston Council.

They were offered the alternative accommodation on 4 December after being contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The pair said they accepted the offer because otherwise the council could withdraw its duty to provide them with somewhere.

But Mr Harland said the offer felt "like a kick in the stomach" and sent "alarm bells" ringing because it was too far from their daughter's school and support network in Kingston.

"It's really disconcerting," he said. "[Our daughter] will have to walk to the train station in the morning in the dark and then come back in the dark."

Mrs Agirgol-Harland called on the council to act with "care and diligence to ensure that these people have been provided with the right type of accommodation".

Kingston Council said it had not been able to source a home to rent closer by but would review the property's suitability.

A spokesperson said: "We have no wish to cause distress to our residents. We are committed to doing all we can to support struggling households and ensure residents have a safe place to live.

"The national housing crisis is a critical situation affecting people and local authorities all over the country."

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