Family in house fire 'felt like hindrance' to landlord

Karen Carney said her social landlord initially offered "inadequate" temporary accommodation, and their fire-damaged home has been left unprotected.

A mother-of-two who lost her home following a fire has said a housing association made her feel like she was a "hindrance" to them.

Karen Carney and her daughters, aged 17 and 19, had to abandon the home they were renting in Dryden Crescent, Stafford, after flames ripped through the property on 23 March.

Ms Carney said she was initially offered an inadequate two-bed "filthy" flat, which another family also turned down. She also said the fire-damaged property had been "left open to the elements" with their possessions inside.

Housing Plus Group said the first home it offered would have been brought up to a good standard before the family moved in.

The mother-of-two said the family felt like they had been left on their own, and the landlord did not "seem to care".

Ms Carney had been paying her father to stay at his house since the fire and said she also paid to stay in a hotel to give him some space.

She said she was also still paying for the fire-damaged property, and was struggling financially.

The family still have furniture and belongings in their home, which they thought were being put into storage a month ago, so are now concerned about theft and damage.

"It's really stressful, we're all on sleeping medication because we are having nightmares," said Ms Carney.

The roof has "completely gone" at the back of the house and is "open to the elements" following the fire, Ms Carney said

"I am sorry that it has taken some time to find this family an acceptable temporary property," said Les Clarke, executive director of housing and care at Housing Plus Group.

A community support officer had been in regular contact with Ms Carney, Mr Clarke stated.

He said the housing association only had a "small supply" of empty homes.

"We felt the [first] property would have been appropriate as a short-term measure and would of course have made sure it was of a good standard before the family moved in," said Mr Clarke.

The community support officer will continue to help the family as they settle into their temporary home, he added.