My latest podcast episode.

I talk to Kyla, who has an autistic and disabled son aged 8.

Kyla, her son and her daughter live in a council flat in Hackney. Kyla has been there for 18 years.

Next week, the family will be evicted by bailiffs, because Kyla’s name is not on the tenancy. She thought it was, because she’s been paying the council rent in her name. Turns out that was a use and occupation charge. She didn’t understand what that was. Who does.

Question is: why won’t the council just grant her a tenancy at the council place? Making the family homeless and then sticking them in some temp  housing hellhole will be ridiculously expensive for the council. Council costs for temporary housing are already out of control.

Why can’t the council negotiate with the family and come up with a solution that makes life as easy as possible for the family and the little boy? He will find a house move and a school move impossible to tolerate.

Why do councils have the nuclear option as their default? A council actively making a family with a disabled child homeless is pretty terrible.