Havering Council evicts care worker and family from Abercrombie House

Adenike Ajayi, 45, was given the boot from Abercrombie House, in Harold Hill, with her three children and her elderly mother.   

Adenike, currently retraining as a social worker, said the experience had left her questioning her new career path.  

“I’m really disappointed in the London Borough of Havering,” she said, on the pavement in Hilldene Avenue after being evicted.  

“They are not showing any empathy at all.” 

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The council said it had fulfilled its duty by offering the family a flat, which they “rejected”.  

But Adenike said Havering had dismissed her extenuating circumstances – that the place the council offered her happened to be the same place where she was once a victim of crime. 

Abercrombie House is a Havering Council hostel in Hilldene Avenue, Harold Hill (Image: Charles Thomson)

Hotels 

Adenike lives with her three children – aged 15, 9 and 7 – and her 80-year-old mother Olufunmilayo. 

Olufunmilayo looks after the children when Adenike is on her social work degree course, or working at a local care home. 

Last year, the owner of their rented home issued a Section 20 “no fault” eviction notice, saying they planned to sell the property. 

After asking Havering for help, the family was placed in a series of hotels. 

Two, said Adenike’s daughter, 15, were “in the middle of nowhere”, meaning the kids couldn’t get to school. 

They were then moved to Abercrombie House, where they have shared one room for eight months. 

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The family has been sharing one room at Abercrombie House for eight months, they said (Image: Adenike Ajayi)

“I have to sleep with my siblings on one bed,” said the teen. 

“It’s affecting my school. I’m stressed. I’m always feeling down. I have no place to revise. There’s not even a table or a chair I can use. There’s no internet. 

“I’m worried about my mum. She’s tried her hardest, spoken to everyone she can, but she’s not getting the support she needs.” 

“Refused” 

In October, Havering Council offered the family a flat in Hornchurch – but when Adenike arrived to view it, she said, she recognised her surroundings and suffered a panic attack. 

She had once been mugged outside the same block and said her attacker had grabbed her from behind and robbed her.  

“I was frightened about moving my family to that area,” she added. 

The evening of the viewing, Adenike was so distressed that she was taken to A&E, her family said. 

Adenike told the council she could not move to an area which gave her panic attacks and where she would fear for her family’s safety.  

The council said this "refusal” meant the family was now “voluntarily homeless”.  

Adenike Ajayi and family's belongings piled up in their one room at Abercrombie House (Image: Adenike Ajayi)

Out of desperation, said Adenike, she agreed to take the flat after all. 

But it was too late. They would now get nothing – and they would be kicked out of Abercrombie House at midday on February 13.  

Evicted 

The Recorder was waiting outside on Monday as the family lugged their belongings out of the hostel. 

Moments earlier, a social worker had telephoned to say she’d found a property for Adenike and the kids for the next week. 

Adenike was baffled by the council’s “inconsistent” actions: it was evicting them, claiming it owed them no housing duty, yet simultaneously offering them emergency housing. 

Adenike's mother, though, was not included in the offer. 

“They said they only owe a duty to the mother and children,” said Adenike. 

“That’s so out of order. That’s terrible. How can I go somewhere and leave my mother with nowhere to go?” 

The Romford Recorder was outside waiting, to witness Havering Council evicting the family from its hostel (Image: Charles Thomson)

The family was told Olufunmilayo must not join them in their new emergency accommodation – but with the street as her only alternative, she has been staying there anyway. 

Havering did not explain to the Recorder why it had evicted the family, only to immediately put them up elsewhere. 

It also did not explain why 80-year-old Olufunmilayo had been effectively evicted onto the streets. 

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It said an independent reviewer had affirmed the decision to deem the family “voluntarily homeless”. 

“We are only legally obliged to make one offer and this was rejected by Ms Ajayi,” it said. 

“Havering is feeling the impact of a national housing crisis and we are unfortunately facing ever-increasing demand and challenges for housing. 

“The stark reality is that demand is outstripping supply and therefore we have very limited options to offer residents needing homes.”