AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a father claimed he was ‘shamed’ for having children when enquiring about bigger council housing.

 

David Birmingham, of Mayfair in Tilehurst, claims a housing officer told him: 'it's not my fault you have had children' after he complained that his family of five are forced to share two bedrooms. 

"I've never been more insulted," said Mr Birmingham. 

Mr Birmingham, his wife, and his nine-year-old son share one bedroom, and his 18-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter share the other.

The 47-year-old father said he has been trying for a prolonged period over several years to find a larger property that is more suitable to his family’s needs.

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But he alleges to have been met with an insult when enquiring about a new property in a recent phone call to Reading Borough Council.

Mr Birmingham said: “I’ve been fobbed off for seven years.

“Me and my wife share our bedroom with our nine-year-old son, which is unacceptable and I’ve been trying to get our housing situation sorted.

“But when I spoke to a housing officer about it, they said ‘it’s not my fault you have had children’.

“That’s disgusting, it’s totally unacceptable. I’ve never been more insulted in my life.

“I’m not just overreacting, what a terrible thing to say. I had these children before I moved in.”

Mr Birmingham has called on the council to apologise. He said: “They can’t speak to someone like that. I’ve got kidney disease, I don’t need this.

“We would like a three-bedroom property, according to the law we should have a three-bedroom home, and Reading Borough Council talk like that.

“They said your down for low priority, then I get insulted for trying to sort it out.”

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In a response to the claims, a council spokesperson said: “Staff are expected to communicate with residents and tenants in a respectful way at all times.

“We encourage Mr Birmingham to log a complaint directly with us, so that we can follow the usual council complaints procedure and liaise with him to investigate this matter fully.”

Mr Birmingham lodged an official complaint to the council on Tuesday, January 3.

The council spokesman added: “More information can be found here: https://www.reading.gov.uk/contact-us/complaints/make-a-complaint-or-comment/

“Residents on the Housing Register can increase their chances of being successful by bidding on a wide range of different types of properties in different areas. Homeswapper (www.homeswapper.co.uk) is also an option for our tenants with mutual exchanges enabling residents to make a direct swap. Often people who are considering downsizing look for opportunities through this route.

“Private rented accommodation is a further option to all our applicants, providing an easily accessible choice that often enables residents to meet their housing need much quicker than via the Housing Register.

“Households may be eligible for our Rent Guarantee Scheme and can make contact with us about this by emailing housing.advice@reading.gov.uk or calling us on 0118 937 2233.”