Kingston Upon Thames (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Naz Zarei, a single mother and former foster child from Kingston, must remain in unsafe New Malden housing despite repeated complaints to her landlord.
Five years ago, Kingston Council placed Naz Zarei in her present residence with a personal assistant from Achieving for Children.
But as soon as she moved into the property, she began to have issues with a neighbor in the apartment below her who reportedly had mental health issues.
In an exclusive interview with Kingston Nub News, Ms Zarei said:
“The first day I was here, I had my door knocked off the hinges physically by this neighbour, to which I called my landlord, London and Quadrant Association (L&Q), and they told me that my neighbour has severe, severe mental health issues.”
Ms. Zarei claims that she and her son’s mental health have suffered as a result of the aggressive and physical conflicts she has had with her neighbor.
In an attempt to find a new house for herself and her kid, she has continuously complained to and requested assistance from Kingston Council, London & Quadrant Housing Association (L&Q), and her landlord.
L&Q has recently determined that Ms. Zarei’s case is not deserving of a transfer, claiming that its transfer list “is only open for emergency and medical priority application” following an examination into her multiple complaints.
In a letter sent to Ms Zarei regarding the investigation, L&Q said:
“Please note that a priority need would be where a resident has mobility needs or requires adaptations that cannot be provided in their current home, a threat to their life, with police etc confirmation, residents are downsizing to a smaller property, or there is major repair works, that resident must be moved for the works to be carried out.
We have advised residents, that they can either contact their local council for rehousing, but we cannot guarantee acceptance, or apply for a mutual exchange via home swapper, Housing exchange, Facebook swap pages & Housing moves.”
She said:
“Regardless of all these promises and words everyone is giving me, me and my child are still here.
We’re still enduring this torment we’re supposed to call “life”. Everyone sees the impact this situation is having on me and my son, but nothing is being done – we’re being passed around like pass the parcel.”
Ms Zarei says that her son told the lady at the meeting that he was “scared” that the neighbour might hit him or his mum.
She added:
“We need to get out of here urgently.”
Ms Zarei says she now has to decide whether she should homeschool her son as her neighbour has previously targeted the pair while on the way to school.
She said:
“My son’s school term is about to start and I have to make a decision whether to put him actively at risk daily to just get him into school, or I home school him, not out of choice, but out of safeguarding my own child’s wellbeing and have us both isolated and stuck indoors while we do home education which isn’t good as it’ll affect his social aspect of living.
He should not be in this situation enduring any of this and yet, despite the evidence L&Q have seen with their own eyes and agreed and stated how disturbing this situation is, again we are left here.”
Ms Zarei continued:
“I am extremely burnt out. I am supposed to actively protect my child and myself while burning on empty, chasing everyone, crying to everyone, screaming for help, but no help is given and nothing is done .
I don’t know how far they (L&Q) will let this situation go but I am extremely petrified what will happen to us next. God forbid we get stabbed or pushed down the communal stairs because this neighbour has a random mental breakdown and we get the end of the stick of it all.
I’m actively a human shield for my child. I’m petrified. I’m genuinely so exhausted mentally, emotionally, and no one has helped us.
We get promised empty words that’s all. Damage control is what everyone is doing instead of saving us.”
Ms Zarei says that she cries “every single day” when she puts her son to bed “out of exhaustion and fear”.
She said:
“I cry in my pillow and think what else can I do? Where else can we go? How else can we escape this situation. I feel like a failure as a mother to not be able to just take my son away from this all.
I feel like no matter how hard I’m trying no one is helping us and I can’t understand why”
Charlie Culshaw, Director of Housing Management & LQ Living, previously told Nub News:
“We take concerns about antisocial behaviour very seriously and understand the impact this can have on residents.”
A Kingston Council spokesperson added:
“Kingston Council takes all safeguarding matters extremely seriously, and, as Ms Zarei’s current tenancy is not with a Kingston Housing Register partner, we have contacted Ms Zarei to encourage her to complete a Housing Advice Application, so that the Council can properly assess the circumstances and has all the necessary information to determine any emergency or interim housing support options that may be available.
We are sorry to hear about Ms Zarei’s situation and understand that such circumstances can be deeply distressing. We strongly encourage Ms Zarei to complete a Housing Advice Application as the appropriate next step to ensure her circumstances can be reviewed in full.”
What actions has Kingston Council taken regarding Naz Zarei’s living conditions?
Kingston Council has acknowledged the situation of Naz Zarei but has stated that since her current tenancy is not with a Kingston Housing Register partner, their capacity to assist is limited.
The Council has encouraged her to complete a Housing Advice Application so that they can properly assess her circumstances and determine any emergency or interim housing support options that may be available.
Despite Naz’s numerous complaints about unsafe living conditions and harassment from her neighbour, the Council has indicated that their involvement requires her status as homeless or in more direct need. She has received some support from local representatives, but the Council maintains it needs proper application procedures to review her case fully.