Mum-of-four, 55, who wants council house after fleeing Middle East for Britain says ‘life in Hull is the same as Iraq’

that the house was "immaculate" upon the family's arrival, with the tenants denying access to maintenance workers.

A spokesman for Hull City Council said its environmental health team had also been denied access to the house, adding that council properties were allocated "based on need".

Intesar, who uses a wheelchair, is now unable to climb the stairs so is forced to wash in the kitchen sink.

"Due to forcing myself up and down the stairs in this house I developed a hernia and piles problem, which in turn forced me to need to facilitate the bathroom more often," she said.

"To make matters worse I went on to develop a breathing problem which the GP has said is an allergic reaction to the damp in the house."

The family says the housing benefit paid directly to the landlord no longer covers the total rent after it was reduced, leaving them thousands of pounds in arrears.

Speaking of the mounting debt, Intesar said: "I am a disabled woman. If we are removed from the property where can we go?

When I think about Iraq and Hull, they are the same to me

"Is this worse than Syria? We were brought here to a safe and legal country but everywhere I go I am turned away. This house is unsafe.

"We thought we would be protected but we have instead been exposed to
more hostility.

"As an ill woman I can't go out and enjoy life, but inside the house my life is even more miserable. I'd prefer to die but my worry is what would happen to my children."

Intesar's landlord told Hull Live: "The flat was in immaculate condition upon the tenants' arrival. I know it is mouldy but they haven't let us in to do maintenance.

"We have been doing maintenance on a regular basis until to 2017 until for some reason we were refused access and we haven't been back and felt intimidated.

"When we get in there we will do a full refurbishment. Exhaustive measures were put in place to ensure the a gas certificate was instated in 2020 as it is a legal requirement for us.

"They have racked up over £5,000 in arrears and they have allowed the housing benefit to be cancelled. They have told me they will be gone by the end of the month."

A Hull City Council spokesman said: "The council’s environmental health team has made contact with the family with a view to assessing the house, however the family has denied environmental health access to the property.

"Information has been provided in Arabic and the environmental health
team has subsequently worked with the landlord of the property and the
family’s support worker to try to provide the advice and support needed.

“The council allocates council properties based on need, and looks to support those with the most pressing needs, whilst taking into account factors such as arrears and previous tenancy issues.”