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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Emily Johnson & Ryan Fahey

Mum and four kids made homeless for seven months after flood destroyed house

A mum-of-four has been made homeless for several months after the bottom floor of her house flooded.

Tara Grindey and her children - aged between nine months and 18 - have been living in a hostel in Hull for months after the flood tore through the lower level of her privately rented accommodation.

Tara claims Hull City Council did offer them a place to live, which she branded "unlivable and dangerous" for herself and her kids.

Six weeks ago the council promised to carry out works on the property to improve its condition, but she claims no work has been started since, Hull Live reports.

The family were storing their belongings at the rented property of Tara's nan before tragedy struck and her beloved relative passed away two weeks ago.

Seeking a resolution to her living situation, Tara begged the council to let her stay at her nan's house - which was her family home while growing up.

But the council has refused to house Tara there and offered another property instead, she claims.

Tara has four children between the ages of nine months and 18. Her eldest son has Asperger Syndrome, and her youngest son has Down's Syndrome and suffers with respiratory problems.

Tara believes the property is "unlivable" in and "dangerous" (Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)
One of Tara's children has Asperger's Syndrome and another has Downs Syndrome (Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)

Finding a safe and homely property is Tara's number one priority, so that she can raise her kids in the way they deserve.

The family were left homeless last year, when Tara's eldest son, who is on the autistic spectrum, accidentally left the tap running, when leaving the house. The house was flooded and they had to be housed in Donnington Court.

They lived at the hostel for months, before being offered a house in Ellerby Grove. Tara said: "When I visited the property, my heart sunk.

"I haven't even been able to go inside, because of how disgusting and unlivable it is. The garden is nothing short of dangerous, and the previous owner has secured their rusty trampoline to the ground, which cannot be removed.

"I have spoken to the neighbours and people walking past the property, and they seem to think this house frequently had junkies smashing their windows in rage.

"As a single mother with four children, it is not a safe place to raise my family, and I fear that something scary may happen."

Tara has been urging Hull City Council to allow her to move back into her nan's property, which was her childhood home. She claims the Peel Street house is perfect to suit her and her family's needs and offers familiar surroundings to her disabled children.

The neighbours have offered to start a petition so that the council will let her move in, as they consider Tara and her family residents. Tara said: "I was so close to my nan, she was my other half and my best friend. Losing her has been horrendous.

"All of my belongings are still in her house, and it has been in the family for years, but as it is rented, I have no rights to it.

"The company 'Places for People' have told me that I need a nomination from the council to apply to move into this property, but they have refused because I already have been offered another house.

"There is no word on when the other house is going to be anywhere close to liveable, and my children are miserable. My daughter cried her eyes out when she saw the new house, and has begged me not to let us live here.

"Currently, at the hostel, my kids can't have friends over or use the Internet, like normal children at their school. We just need our life back and to be settled again, we can't take it anymore."

In a statement, Hull City Council said: "Given that Miss Grindey and her family are in temporary accommodation, her situation is a top priority for the council and she has been offered a council home.

"Regarding her concerns about the suitability of this property, she can request that this decision is reviewed, and we will be in touch with her.

"As a registered housing provider, Places for People can advertise homes for which they want to request nominations from the council through the council’s Homesearch service.

"Applicants can also use Homesearch to place bids, in the same way they would for council homes. The council sends the bids received to the provider, who then decides to whom they allocate the property.

"The council has no part in the other providers’ decision making. According to the council’s records, Places for People has not requested nominations for the Peel Street property."

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