Rented Rushden house is making my child sick, mum says

Steph Hatton, pictured with her children Aston and Sophia-Rose, said she had been on a housing waiting list for two years

A mother said her cold, draughty rented home was making her four-year-old sick.

Steph Hatton, 29, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, said her son Aston had hypothyroidism, which made him more sensitive to cold weather.

Ms Hatton, who also has a one-year-old daughter, Sophia-Rose, said she had been on a council waiting list for housing for two years.

The local council leader said the authority was "dedicated to assisting" Ms Hatton in finding suitable housing.

Aston spent months in hospital as a newborn, undergoing several operations.

"It was an absolute nightmare," said Ms Hatton. "We had to pray every single day that he would still be with us."

Now a pre-schooler, Aston has been diagnosed with autism and global delay and is prone to chest infections.

Ms Hatton said the private home they live in, where rent is paid via Universal Credit, was making his symptoms worse, and broken windows have had to be taped shut.

Steph Hatton said the house was making her young boy poorly

The windows have been draughty, making the house cold

"I am absolutely terrified. It's horrible to know he's had a horrible start to life and I have to put him in a freezing cold bedroom," said Ms Hatton.

She said other rooms in the house, including the bathroom and bedroom, also had windows that did not close properly and she had other property issues.

Ms Hatton has been on a council waiting list for two years, but nothing suitable to her needs has come up.

The children's father, Liam Bradley, 37, said he just wanted them to "have a warm home".

"It's not a lot to ask. We just want the children to be safe where the windows can't be pushed open," he said.

Ms Hatton, along with her children's father Liam Bradley, hoped improved housing would be better for Aston's health

Ms Hatton's landlord, who did not wish to be named, said he had attempted to access the house several times and had also tried to get the windows fixed.

He said some responsibility for the upkeep of the house must lie with the tenant.

Jason Smithers, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said: "Demand for social housing is currently high, with increasing demand for council properties, while the supply remains limited.

"This means that unfortunately we simply can't provide timescales to when a property which suits a resident's specific need may become available. With this in mind, we encourage all applicants to be as flexible as they can be in the type and location of properties they consider.

"We do, however, want to assure Stephanie that her application is still active and we are dedicated to assisting her in finding suitable housing."