Green London mayor admits she cannot stop family of disabled boy’s eviction - despite election promise

Detailed summary

Family of boy with severe autism has been given just three weeks’ notice to move out of their home

The new Green Mayor and Deputy Mayor of a London borough have admitted they don’t have the power to stop the council eviction of a disabled boy and his family - despite an election promise to do so.

Hackney Council’s new Green-led administration has rowed back on the pledge to stop the eviction of a family in a tenancy fraud dispute, which has sparked three separate protests - including one aimed at them on Monday (November 9) in which activists demanded answers from outside the council’s headquarters.

Charity Oppong and her eight-year-old son with severe autism are facing eviction by Hackney Council over the subletting of a council flat from a named tenant.

The family are set to be moved into temporary accommodation elsewhere in the borough, but the London Renters Union (LRU) and clinicians say this will cause “deep distress” and lasting harm to the boy, Kayden, who is non-verbal autistic, prone to meltdowns, and has “no safety awareness”.

After officers gave the family a three-week deadline to move – or else the council would relinquish its homelessness duty – campaigners marched on Monday (November 9) from the Town Hall to the council’s corporate headquarters, demanding “justice” for the family.

An LRU spokesperson said the council was “recklessly” forcing the family to move into temporary accommodation in a block with known “safety hazards”, as another criticised the council’s “threatening” communication.

“The only way to ensure a safe and suitable home for Charity’s son is to let him stay in the area where he has grown up, and where his support network is. Needlessly removing him from his school and support network will cause lasting harm,” the spokesperson said.

Almost 20 years ago, Ms Oppong moved into the flat when her sister-in-law, Janet Antwi, was named on the tenancy agreement. Ms Antwi later moved to America and was not able to return, but never formally transferred the tenancy. Ms Oppong stayed, and carried on paying rent and council tax.

The local authority…

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