Family of eight split into two houses on either side of dual carriageway by council

A family of eight have been split into two homes on either side of a busy dual carriageway by a council.

Mother Rebecca Fenner and her husband Yassin Amrani have urged Birmingham City Council to reunite them and their six children under one roof.

They were forced to move out of their privately rented house in June along with their six children, aged seven, nine, 12, 15 and one-year-old twin boys.

Ms Fenner, 33, said the council could not find a large enough temporary accommodation for the whole family.

She is living in a one-bedroom home on the A45 Coventry Road in Yardley with four of her children, where they share a kitchen with two other families.

Meanwhile, her husband, Mr Amrani, 38, is staying with their two eldest daughters in another one-bedroom home on the opposite side of the busy dual carriageway.

They share a kitchen with four other families, but the girls must sometimes sleep alone in the property when their father goes to work.

The family has been split in properties across the road since 24 July, and Ms Fenner says the cramped and noisy living situation has not been ideal for one of her sons, who she says has suspected autism, and one of her daughters who is taking her GCSEs this year.

"I've been homeless now for four months now and I have six children," said Ms Fenner.

"We had to leave the property after my landlord came back from Egypt. My nine-year-old son is on the way to being diagnosed with autism.

"We spent two nights in Tamworth and then went to Maypole for 28 days. But as my son was banging the floor, banging the walls, screaming, having meltdowns - they didn't extend our stay.

"Eventually, they put me on Coventry Road. But when they moved us we were never told my family would be separated.

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"We arrived and the manager said they didn't have two rooms together, so they said there was one room here and one across the road. It's a very busy dual carriageway.

"It means I'm on one side and my husband and two eldest daughters are on the other. The problem is my husband works and has to go to work, so it means they are left by themselves.

"My support worker knows about this and has raised it, but no one at the council is taking any notice. I've sent 50 emails and no one has come back to me. My son made a hole in the wall because of his anger.

"What do I do? I'm being ignored. I'm asking to be put in something which is self-contained. I hope we can move as soon as possible."

Her bedroom has a double bed and a bunk bed but no space for cots. The room on the other side of the dual carriageway has a double bed and two singles.

Ms Fenner said the family were offered an attic room but turned it down because it was unsuitable.

"How can I go in an attic with two toddlers who have just started walking and children who could open a door and fall down the stairs," she said.

Ms Fenner urged the council to move her family to a self-contained home with their own kitchen and living room as soon as possible.

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: "Like all councils dealing with a national housing crisis, we would prefer not to have to place homeless people in temporary accommodation.

"We have offered this family alternative accommodation, including rooms within the same building in their current accommodation as well as rooms in a purpose built homeless centre, however they have refused both offers.

"We will continue to look for more suitable accommodation for this household and will ensure that they are contacted by one of our outreach team who can provide support and advice regarding housing options including renting in the private sector.

"However, Birmingham has a high demand on our waiting list and all offers of permanent accommodation will be made in line with our housing allocation policy."