Cramped family of six finally gets three-bedroom home

An overcrowded family whose plight was highlighted earlier this year by Housing Today has won its battle to be rehoused by Westminster council.

Elizabeth Clackson and her four children, all aged under 12, had been crammed into a two-bedroom council flat in Westminster since 2001. Seven months ago, she had another baby.

But the family were not deemed to breach the overcrowding standard, which was set in 1935 and decrees that living rooms, and often kitchens, are suitable sleeping accommodation.

Clackson, who had been forced to sleep in the living room with baby Millie, had been fighting to get her family rehoused. Her situation was featured in Housing Today’s “Right to room” campaign (HT 27 February, page 18).

But she received a letter from the council two weeks ago informing her that a suitable three-bedroom flat had become available nearby and moved in over the bank holiday weekend.

Clackson said: “It’s a really lovely, newly decorated flat.

It’s much better – the kids are happier and I’m thrilled.”

She had wanted a four-bedroom home, but accepted a smaller property because there is a shortage of four-bedroom homes in Westminster.

“The children will still have to share, but Millie and I now have a room and we have a proper living room. We can watch videos, play games, do homework – just like a normal family.”

The council said that when assessing the family it had failed to account for Clackson’s youngest daughter but had since included her in its assessment. In fact, the 1935 standard does not require Millie to be counted because she is under one year old.

Frances Mapstone, chief housing officer at Westminster council, said: “Elizabeth was clearly one of our most overcrowded cases. When it turned out we hadn’t taken account of her youngest daughter we moved her up the list and as a result she was rehoused shortly after. But she was not ‘bumped’ up the list.”

The battle to update the 1935 overcrowding rule returns to the House of Commons next week when the Housing Bill reaches its report stage on Tuesday.