'We eat on the ground': Inaspect the guesthouse the place everyone seems to be homeless

On the primary flooring of the Willow Lodge Guest House, Habiba and her brother Hameef are leaping round within the cramped bed room they share with their mom. They strive their greatest to flee the piled-up suitcases, two beds, small desk and fridge, however they don't even have sufficient room to maneuver.

“We need a bigger place,” says Habiba, 5. This tiny double room with connected toilet in east London has been the household's dwelling for seven months, and for Habiba it's sufficient.

“My brother and I need a nice, big place [to play]And there's no sofa like the old house [had],

Her mother, Jamnu, says, “Whenever she plays with her toys, if the food is ready, she has to put it back as we don't have a dining table. We sit on the floor outside the toilet and eat.”

Although this room is described as temporary accommodation, the family does not know how long they will stay here. This uncertainty means that Habiba still attends the same school, even though it is now two buses and an hour away.

Like many others living in this block, the family were victims of a “no fault” eviction below Section 21, the place a landlord can ask somebody to vacate a house on a brief discover with out giving a motive. The measure is cited by charities as a serious explanation for homelessness, as tenants typically discover they will not afford to hire privately at present market charges.

No-fault evictions rose 30% between April and June in contrast with a 12 months earlier, regardless of the earlier authorities lengthy promising to ban them.

This week, The new Labour administration promised to finally finish the observe by means of a Tenants Bill of Rights.

The authorities says that from subsequent summer season, landlords should give an extended discover interval earlier than evicting these households and they’re going to even have to offer a sound motive, comparable to their want to maneuver in on their very own.

But for the London borough of Redbridge, which is paying for the Willow Lodge households, the present state of affairs is way worse.

The state of affairs is identical for a lot of different native authorities, that are spending a big portion of their budgets on offering non permanent lodging.

In the following small room are Romel Peters and his two sons. They have been residing right here for 15 months. They had been additionally evicted by means of no fault of their very own. The household seemed for a unique flat, however Romel says a personal two-bed property would value £1,600 a month, which he says is unaffordable.

The two boys, aged seven and eight, sleep on a double mattress whereas Romel has a single mattress subsequent to them. “We eat, drink, sleep, play, bathe, brush our teeth, everything in this room,” says Romel, 37. But in all probability not for for much longer.

Redbridge Council desires the household to maneuver to completely different non permanent lodging in West Bromwich, within the West Midlands, three hours away. She refused.

“I’m from Redbridge and all my family is here,” she says.

“Everything I know, everything my children know, is in Redbridge. If we moved three hours away we would have nothing. We have no support, no friends, no one we can contact regularly.”

The council says her refusal to depart means she has intentionally made herself homeless and so it’s not the council's responsibility to assist the household. They should depart Willow Lodge inside three days.

Redbridge Council informed the BBC that in addition to providing various lodging within the Midlands, that they had provided him assist discovering employment and a faculty place.

Though Willow Lodge is no less than near Romel's assist community, residents say they’ve various issues with the property, together with cockroaches in cupboards, in addition to bedbugs and rat infestations in current months.

He mentioned the kitchen had two four-ring hobs however solely one in all them labored, whereas the microwave had a damaged door.

Despite the challenges, there are sometimes queues to make use of the amenities – no less than 20 folks dwell within the property, together with 12 youngsters. However, they can’t use the kitchen after 10pm, whereas they are saying the one washer can’t be used after 5pm.

Residents say the owner receives between £400 and £800 a month, relying on the dimensions of every room.

A Redbridge Council spokesperson informed the BBC that they anticipate all landlords to offer housing of a suitable normal and on this case they’d be inspecting the premises instantly and talking to tenants about their considerations.

It additionally states that the owner is anticipated to work with the council to hold out any crucial remedial works instantly.

The BBC tried to acquire remark from the owner by means of the council however obtained no response.

High charges of no-fault evictions and elevated rents, mixed with rising prices of residing and immigration, have created a serious disaster for the non permanent housing system.

Councils in England to spend over £1 billion on non permanent housing in 2023-24This is a rise of greater than 50% in comparison with the earlier 12 months. This value was as a result of expenditure incurred by a report 117,450 households on short-term lodging, together with greater than 150,000 youngsters.

Redbridge Council says it spent £52 million on non permanent lodging final 12 months, which it describes as “shocking” and “absolutely unsustainable”.

“The harsh reality is that we can no longer afford to keep people in temporary accommodation due to London’s extremely expensive private rental market,” the council mentioned.

Three days later, eviction day arrives for Romel Peters. But first she has to get her sons to high school – she's determined to not inform them they in all probability gained't be coming again right here.

“I didn't want to cause anxiety. They've literally just started school, so I want them to focus on settling in.” However, her personal stress stage is “very high. I haven't been able to sleep”.

As Romel goes again contained in the visitor home, the opposite residents come out. They are right here for a wide range of causes.

A 65-year-old lady mentioned she had been residing at Willow Lodge for 3 years, whereas residents of two different rooms had been despatched right here by the Home Ministry.

Recently two households, together with a Sudanese man with two youngsters and a Pakistani lady with a 10-year-old son, have been granted the precise to remain within the UK after their asylum purposes had been accepted.

Saina, from Islamabad, says she is grateful the nation has accepted her. She doesn't know anybody within the UK and so long as her son receives counselling for his psychological well being issues, she would be capable to go wherever and “start her life over”.

Just hours earlier than Romel Peters is because of transfer in, he receives a name from Redbridge Council. He has had a serious change of coronary heart and hopes they are going to be capable to assist him discover a everlasting two-bedroom property within the space inside just a few days.

“I'm relieved. It's frustrating it took so long to get help, but I'm looking forward to the future,” she says, as she brings her sons dwelling from college to inform them the excellent news.

But per week later, Romell and her sons are homeless, pressured to sofa-surf with members of the family. The council has stopped paying for his or her keep at Willow Lodge – and its provide to assist discover a new dwelling has thus far come to nothing. The uncertainty of homelessness continues, and like 1000’s of different households throughout England, it began with an eviction by means of no fault of their very own.