Disabled Northampton family facing homelessness

Mother and four children fear they will end up on the streets

By Natalie Bloomer

When Erin Mulhall meets with NN Journal at a local coffee shop, she slumps into her seat looking worried. Each morning she wakes up wondering if today will be the day a possession order claim for her home will drop through the letterbox.

Erin and her four children have privately rented their home in Northampton for 17 years. In that time she has experienced a long list of issues with the property. Among other things a ceiling has collapsed, there was a long period of time when she had no washing facilities, there have been major leaks and episodes of no heating or hot water.

In the summer of 2021 an adult social worker attended Erin’s home to assess her care needs. She has non-cancerous lymphedema, fibromyalgia, arthritis throughout her body and finds mobility difficult. Three of her four children at the property also have disabilities including severe autism, ADHD and anxiety.

It was agreed that Erin should receive five hours of care each week but that carers would not be able to enter the property until a list of repairs had been carried out. 

The social worker contacted West Northamptonshire Council’s head of private sector housing and asked for them to inspect the property. This led to a hazard notice being issued to the landlord identifying the issues in the home and the action needed to rectify them. 

To prevent so-called revenge evictions in this type of scenario, landlords are not able to evict a tenant within six months of a hazard notice being issued.

Erin’s landlord waited just longer than the six months before sending her a section 21 notice giving her and her children two months to leave the property.

“When the hazard notice was issued to the landlord I was worried they might evict us but I was told it would be okay. I knew it was coming though, I just knew,” Erin says.

“A week before the section 21 [2 month period] ended the estate agents instructed by my landlord asked if I would be vacating the property. I told them no because we have nowhere to go.”

Erin has tried to find another rental property but has been unsuccessful. She relies on benefits to get by as she is unable to work due to health and caring for her disabled children. She can’t afford to pay six months rent up front and doesn’t have a suitable guarantor. 

“I would have left this house years ago if I had a choice. I’ve tried to find somewhere else but it’s impossible.”

Erin is being supported by voluntary independent advocate Teena Eastwood. The pair have been in communication with the housing department at WNC and say they were told that Erin’s income is too high for her to be eligible for social housing. They understand the authority came to this conclusion by taking into account the disability premiums Erin receives for her children. However, in most other circumstances not all of these payments are classed as an income - for example PIP (Personal Independence Payments) is a tax-free payment intended to help with mobility and care costs. 

“We were told we were above the income threshold for social housing but my children get free school meals because they don’t take into account the disability payments when calculating that - it makes no sense. What are we supposed to do if we can’t rent privately? I can’t sleep and I’m having panic attacks over this,” Erin says.

The day before NN Journal meets with Erin and Teena they attended a meeting with representatives from the children’s schools which housing officers from West Northamptonshire Council were also expected to attend but didn’t turn up for or cancel. 

“The schools understand how serious this is, they have said ‘these young people won’t cope with this’.”

“My biggest fear is that my children will be separated. My two eldest are young adults at college with EHCPs [Education, Health and Care Plan] but they still need me. It would be devastating if they were housed separate from the family. How can they leave a disabled family like this?”

Teena Eastwood says it is now a waiting game for the possession order proceedings to begin. 

“As soon as the court paperwork arrives Erin and the children will have to leave. We’ll try to get them a bit of extra time but the best case scenario is 31 days and then the bailiffs arrive.”

West Northamptonshire Council advised that they are working with Ms Mulhall under the council’s prevention duties. Joanne Barrett, assistant director for housing & communities, adults, communities & wellbeing said: 

“It would be inappropriate to provide details regarding Ms Mulhall’s personal circumstances or engagements with the council.

“Whilst the Government is consulting to remove ‘no fault evictions’ under Section 21, this provision remains and landlords are able to issue eviction notices to end tenancy arrangements.

“The council’s Housing Allocation’s Policy provides guidance on applying for, and acceptance to the Council’s Housing Register. Please be assured that the council will continue to work with Ms Mulhall to support her and her family in finding new accommodation.”