Our council house is so cramped my son hasn’t learned to walk, my daughter can’t play and I can’t even stay overnight
A DESPERATE dad has told how his family’s council house is so cramped his son can't learn to walk while his four-year-old daughter has no room to play.
Mark Croft, 39, says partner Chloe Odell's two-bed house in Luton, Beds., is a living "nightmare" for their kids - and is so small he can't even stay the night.
The dad, who is a live-in carer for his cousin in London, said it is difficult for him to sleep at the property as it means squeezing into a bed with son Luca, 11 months, Carys, four, and mum Chloe, 34, at night.
Meanwhile, Chloe’s older kids, Jean-Paul, 12, and daughter Leah, 16, must pack together in the "box room" like sardines.
Despite repeatedly begging Luton Council for help, Mark says little is being done - and as Chloe's older kids battle more space of their own, the dad is desperate for a solution.
"It’s a nightmare," Mark told the Sun Online.
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“There is one adult and four kids living in a two bedroom terrace.
“The living room is the size of a porch, it’s got a stairwell in the middle of it and you can’t fit anything in there.
“My daughter’s toys are under the stairs but she can’t even get them out - there’s no space for her to play with them."
He added: “My son is 11 months old now and he still can’t walk. It’s because he hasn’t had the space to get up and move around.”
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Mark said the sardine-can house is far from suitable for teen Leah, who needs to study for her GCSEs while 12-year-old Jean-Paul is being made to keep quiet.
Meanwhile the one-bed flat he shares with his cousin in London is much more spacious than Chloe's two-bed house.
When little Luca stays with him in the capital, the tot "tries to move around as much as possible" while he can.
But Mark said his son's health is worsening from being in the Luton house and he "coughs his guts off" whenever he is there.
My daughter’s toys are under the stairs but she can’t even get them out - there’s no space for her to play with them.
Mark Croft
"There’s mould, there’s no bath panels on the bath and the wooden frame under the bath has come away," he said.
“The front door's been broken since the Christmas before last and there’s plaster falling off the wall.
"One time the kids were getting in the bath and the tiles were falling off the wall into it."
Mark said the council "mended it with plaster" but failed to put the tiles back up.
He also claims the authorities "keep making excuses" every time he asks for help.
The disgruntled dad explained: “The council do inspections, they come out and nothing gets heard of it after.
"Chloe got a discretionary housing payment about two or three years ago so she could move.
“But then they found other excuses."
Mark said Chloe is waiting on the support payment to help her pay her rent arrears.
She has been told once it is paid, the council can "look into sorting a new house".
Mark, however, believes this is unlikely.
He insisted: "As soon as the rent arrears are cleared there will be another reason [why they can't help]."
A spokesperson for Luton Council said: "We are naturally concerned to hear of this experience by the family in one of our council properties. When the family of one adult and two children moved into the two bedroom property in 2011 there was adequate space, however since that time the tenant has had two further children.
"Unfortunately, like many local authorities, we have an extreme shortage of family homes becoming available for re-letting due to pressures on housing stock. Once the family provides the information requested, we will be in a better position to see what their immediate rehousing prospects are."
They added: "A council housing officer has been working with the tenant to help de-clutter the property and provide more space for the family. Repairs that need completing have been reported to our repairs service.
"We urge the tenant to respond to our housing team, so we can place them on the transfer system in order to try and find them a more suitable property."
Responding to the council's comment, Chloe said she has not received any help to de-clutter her house.
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She added: "I haven't had any support from them, they seem to be failing me and my children.
“I've never missed an appointment with them. It’s not the same the other way around they don't engage with me at all."
