Denise Batty, who has two daughters, has spent 12 weeks without a home

A FAMILY whose council home was flooded with raw sewage in July are still living in a hotel as repair work is yet to begin.

Denise Batty, her husband and two school-age daughters have now spent almost 12 weeks without a home, moving between Airbnbs, including one-bedroom flats, hotels and other temporary accommo­dation.

The family were forced to vacate their new-build after sewage and faeces flowed back through their toilet, bath and washing machine, flooding most of the flat in Old Street.

Ms Batty said the council has given her no clear explanation as to why works are taking so long to commence. Islington has offered them several options out of the borough, where both daughters go to school and Ms Batty works, and as far as Stratford.

Ms Batty is currently staying in a Travelodge in Old Street in one room with her entire family until the beginning of November.

Raw sewage in the bath at their flat

She told the Tribune that communication from the council‘s housing team has been consistently poor and housing for each night arranged the same afternoon, creating constant instability for her family.

Prior to moving into the Travelodge in early October, the family were sent to a flat in Highbury Corner which was double-booked, given an unfindable address in King’s Cross, and sent to a hotel in Shoreditch where the officer had mistakenly made the booking for a single adult.

One night, the entire family slept on a pullout bed at a friend’s home after the council was unable to secure a place for them to sleep.

Councillor Jason Jackson, the Town Hall’s housing chief, said: “Everyone deserves a safe, secure and good-quality home, and what this family has experienced is deeply distressing. No family should have to deal with sewage flooding their home and the disruption and uncertainty that follows. I am sincerely sorry for the distress this has caused.

“The family is currently being accommodated in temporary accommodation in Islington, with arrange­ments in place to extend their stay as needed. Financial support is being provided towards food costs, and additional assistance with laundry costs is being arranged.

“Current estimates indicate that the repairs will take between eight and 10 weeks, although every effort will be made to complete them sooner where possible.”