Camden News: Camden Counci l | Syed Zahidi | Rachel Zahidi | West Hampstead | Housing

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Camden News - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 8 January 2009

Syed and Rachel Zahidi with their children Saneer, 1, Zaara 5, Zaak 6, and Alissia, 5

Meet the family of six struggling to breathe in a two-bedroom flat

‘Points system for awarding homes is failing to tackle overcrowding crisis’

A FAMILY of six stranded in a flat with just two bedrooms have been warned their case of overcrowding is not serious enough to guarantee them a transfer to a bigger council home.
Syed Zahidi said his family has suffered damp and cramped conditions – and claims the situation has made worse because the Town Hall has twice “lost” or unfairly revoked their housing points, the currency in which tenants can use to barter for new accommodation.
Housing officials warned that their attempts to solve problems of overcrowding have been hampered by the sheer numbers of people wanting homes and it has proved hard to help everyone in need.
Mr Zahidi’s family have been living in a ground floor home in Messina Avenue, in West Hampstead, since 2002.
During that time the family’s four young children – who share one bedroom blighted with damp – have all contracted asthma, according to medical reports compiled by their GP.
Eldest son, six-year-old Zaak, has been rushed to hospital for his asthma attacks more than 50 times over the past two years and all the children have missed school with respiratory illness.
Mr Zahidi’s wife, Rachel, receives housing points for her depression but 100 points were taken away last year without explanation.
Mr Zahidi, a freelance graphic designer, said Camden had “closed their eyes” to their problems. He said: “They have put the family in an extreme situation and no one is taking responsibility. The service Camden provided has been zero.
“They must be aware they’re affecting our health. My kids are in and out of hospital constantly.”
It is not the first time Camden has revoked points from Mr Zahidi’s family. In 2006 the council took their points away. When the family asked why, the points were reinstated with an apology.
A letter said a computer system upgrade had caused the error.
Mr Zahidi added: “One person told us that the points were taken away because my wife is no longer as depressed. But she’s more depressed now than she was before.
“We’re in a worse situation than ever. We’re falling on top of each other.”
There are nearly 17,000 people currently on Camden’s waiting list. One third live in conditions of overcrowding.
A spokeswoman for Camden Council admitted the family’s accommodation was “small” but said it did not even rank as one of the worst cases in the borough.
She added: “Camden housing been in close contact with the Zahidi family in a bid to address their housing needs. We understand the stress caused by living in overcrowded accommodation and will always do what we can to help.
“However the demand for housing far exceeds the supply available in the borough. We will continue to work with them to find a solution.”

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